ANTIQUE – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 ordered the provincial and municipal disaster risk reduction and management councils (P/MDRRMCs) in this province to implement preemptive evacuation of residents in high-risk areas for flooding and landslide in anticipation of intense torrential rains to be brought by Severe Tropical Storm Leon.
OCD-6 director Raul Fernandez on Monday, October 28, issued Memorandum Order No. 106, Series of 2024 on this.
This comes after the weather advisory issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that Antique Province is forecasted to experience intense to torrential rains by October 29, 2024 until noon of October 30, 2024 due to the trough of Leon.
“In this regard, the provincial and all municipal DRRM councils are hereby directed to conduct necessary preemptive evacuation measures in your respective communities identified as high-risk areas for flooding, landslide and other related hazards to ensure the safety and protection of communities,” read part of the order of Fernandez who also serves as the chairperson of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 6.
The OCD-6 director reiterated the following preparedness measures to further enhance preparedness for response:
* Initiate the conduct of Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) and other emergency meetings and response activities.
* Intensify risk communication and early warning efforts at all levels.
For this purpose, establish networking with local print, TV, and radio media for wider dissemination of advisories and communication of risk
* Initiate the activation of the emergency operations centers (EOCs) and mobilize response clusters for hydro meteorological hazards, as required by the situation.
* Preposition, mobilize and deploy response teams and resources.
* Identify possible alternate routes in case of damages to critical facilities and lifelines.
The P/MDRRMCs were also ordered to ensure strengthened coordination with RDRRMC-6 through OCD-6 and submit preparedness measures relative to the aforementioned memorandum and situational reports to ocdrc6@gmail.com.
Meanwhile, due to inclement weather, the following 14 municipalities in the province suspended classes yesterday:
* San Jose de Buenavista – preschool to Senior High School (SHS), both public and private
* Culasi – preschool to SHS, both public and private
* Anini-y – all levels, both public and private
* Sibalom – preschool to SHS, both public and private
* Belison – all levels, both public and private
* Libertad – preschool to SHS, both public and private
* Valderrama – all levels, both public and private
* Hamtic – preschool to SHS, both public and private
* Pandan – preschool to SHS, both public and private
* Tobias Fornier – preschool to SHS, both public and private
* San Remigio – preschool to SHS, both public and private
* Barbaza – preschool to SHS, both public and private
* Sebaste – preschool to SHS, both public and private
* Patnongon – preschool to SHS, both public and private/PN
