ILOILO City – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 6 of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) is on “blue alert” from Dec. 23, 2023 to Jan. 2, 2024.
City and provincial, including municipal, disaster risk reduction and management councils across the region are under enhanced monitoring, too.
Melissa Banias, chief of the Operations Section of OCD Region 6, said under “blue alert” status, city and provincial disaster councils are required to regularly send situational reports 24/7 on holiday-related incidents.
Partnered government agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), among others, and local government units (LGUs) should also implement precautionary measures to ensure peace and order during the New Year revelries.
“Diri makita ang preparedness sang kada agency, LGU, and private sectors nga may gina-obra man nga precautionary measures para sa kalinongan sang holiday season,” Banias said in a Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo interview.
The PCG has set up passenger help desks in different ports, DPWH has placed “Lakbay Alalay” Motorist Assistance Centers on national highways, LTO and LTFRB conduct random inspections at terminals to ensure the roadworthiness of public utility vehicles, and PDEA conducts random drug tests on drivers and conductors.
Banias said the holiday season comes with many gatherings, parties, and people who travel, which is why the risk of incidents is high.
As of this writing, the RDRRMC-6 has not received any reports of any untoward incidents related to the holiday season.
“As of now, wala pa kita sang na-monitor nga any incident sa aton operation center nga related sa holiday season,” Banias said.
With this, the operations chief urged the public to exercise caution, avoid consuming alcohol while driving, and check the roadworthiness of the vehicle before using it./PN
