THE Davao City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (CDDRMO) sternly warned village officials that they would be held liable if they are found to have failed to implement disaster mitigation measures, a day after the flooding caused by the rising water level of the Talomo River.
“Ang usa ka kinabuhi na makalas niana, if we found out kay wala nila gihimo ila disaster preparedness and mitigation, he is responsible (If we find out that you are not doing your duties on disaster preparedness and mitigation, you are responsible for a life lost during disasters),” CDRRMO operations officer Rodrigo Bustillo said on Thursday, August 29, during the iSpeak media forum at the City Hall of Davao.
Bustillo’s remark comes after the flood incident on Wednesday evening, August 28, wherein affected areas near the river such as Tugbok, Talomo, and Catalunan Pequeño experiencing high water level due to the localized thunderstorm that hit the city.
The disaster reminded barangay officials of their responsibilities as frontliners during disasters and other emergency situation.
“Maong ginapakusgan nato ang barangay kay sila una mu-respond ingkaso naa ing-ani nga sitwasyon (This is why we strengthen in capacitating the villages in times of disaster because they are the first to respond),” he said.
“This is a stern warning to all the barangays (villages). We should not take for granted the disaster preparedness,” he added.
The 1991 Local Government Code and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 mandate local government units to be at the frontline of emergency measures during disasters.
A DILG memorandum also states that local governments should “ensure the installation of signages and markers in identified hazards and danger zones.”
As of August 29, 6 p.m., the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) recorded 3,559 affected families from the above-mentioned areas.
Bustillo said CDDRMO has yet to confirm five individuals who were initially reported to have been away by the current during the flood.
“We wanted this to serve as a lesson that they should never be complacent,” Bustillo said.
He also said they are continuously implementing the “No Rescue”, which encourages the residents to voluntarily evacuate.
Disaster preparedness
While he said that areas within the rivers are declared a “No Build Zone”, he said the city government particularly the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) is still finalizing the included areas.
Bustillo said they cannot immediately impose it because of an absence of a city resolution declaring these areas as such.
He said an estimated 10,000 families will be evacuated once these areas will be officially declared as “No Build Zones”.
“We are eyeing this as a long-term solution, wherein all people should be remove from hazard zones to s safety area. We don’t want to do this everytime. The city government has been graudally addressing it,” Bustillo said.
In a separate interview, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Police Colonel Alexander Tagum said policemen have helped in the search and rescue (SAR) operations.
Tagum said that around 150 SAR Team Members from City Mobile Force Company and Police Stations of DCPO plus the 55 SAR Team Members from Regional Mobile Force Battalion-Davao were deployed to assist those who were trapped.
He said though they have enough SAR manpower for this kind of natural calamities, they have recommended to acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte for the purchase of plastic rescue boats for flood-prone areas in the city.
“We face these disasters with our available individual SAR equipment (composed of Safety Helmets, Floatation Vest and Safety rope) and bare courage to serve and protect our people. We know that time is of the essence and so we act immediately, to save lives, upon receiving alarm of distress from the public,” Tagum said.