THE Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) raised on Thursday, December 20, the Alert Level 2 status in the entire city in preparation for the landfall of Tropical Storm Vinta in Mindanao.
"This means that the disaster operations center, including our responders, we require them to have 50 percent personnel activated and alert. This includes support function for the emergency operations center," CDRRMC head Emmanuel Jaldon said during the I-Speak media forum Thursday.
Jaldon added that they monitor the weather status every 30 minutes from the pre-monitoring office and other early warning source, like the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
He said rains are expected to start Thursday evening or late afternoon.
"We will be using watches and warnings based on Pagasa and monitoring. We also confirm the (situation) based on our local monitors - human and electronic monitors," he said.
Under Alert Level 2, Jaldon said all team leaders or unit chiefs, the Central 911, barangay responders, and volunteer responders will start checking and mounting the equipment that will be used after the upcoming calamity, as well as the search and rescue equipment like rubber inflated boats, personal protective equipment (PPE), communication equipment, and survival set (SS) kit, among others.
"They will be ready, on standby for possible deployment order," he added.
Jaldon said the announcement of Alert Level 3 is expected to be declared anytime Friday, December 22.
"Level 3 means may deployment na and naga-occur na (ang disaster)," Jaldon added.
On Thursday afternoon, Jaldon met with the council members and response clusters representatives to discuss and review protocols.
The meeting also included a Post Disaster Risk Analysis (PDRA) wherein the council will analyze the possible worst-case scenario that could happen, possible action plans, and resources requirement.
Jaldon assured that each barangay is adequately equipped.
He said preventive evacuation will be done upon advice.
Jaldon added that in Davao City, they are closely monitoring 54 barangays that are prone to landslides and flashfloods.
He also urged Dabawenyos to stay in their homes during the time of heavy rains to avoid heavy traffic in the central district.
Also due to Vinta, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued Wednesday evening Proclamation 7, declaring suspension of classes within the city from December 21 to 23.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Davao has placed the entire Davao Region under "Blue Alert" status.
OCD-Davao Director Leoncio Cirunay Jr. said they have directed the prepositioning of all response assets and activated the Incident Command System.
The blue alert status also means that the incident management teams, government offices and agencies, including the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, will be ready to deploy their responders, distribute relief goods and make use of their facilities, like school buildings, to be utilized as temporary evacuation centers for displaced and affected residents.
They have also coordinated with other local government units in preparation for the tropical storm and its possible effects.
"Activated na ang ating emergency operations center to effectively monitor the situation. Alert narin ang ating responders," Cirunay said.
He advised the public to heed the call once there is a need for evacuation and listen to updates.
Security forces are also bracing up for disaster response. The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) directed all its line units to prepare and coordinate with other agencies.
"Without disregarding the duty to secure the communities from terrorist attacks and other atrocities, Eastern Mindanao Command has directed its units particularly those in the areas to be affected by Tropical Storm Vinta to prepare and closely coordinate with different local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils in the conduct of Disaster Response," Eastmincom Public Information Officer Major Ezra Balagtey said.