BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental seeks a “unified disaster response protocol” for all disaster situations.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is hoping to further improve the scope of services of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) for its emergency response, One Hospital Command, Emergency Rescue 911, and the Command and Response Center.
Lacson also revealed plans to strengthen the province’s Automated Early Warning System and the installation of repeaters among local government units (LGU) to improve their response during emergencies.
According to the Japan-based Asian Disaster Reduction Center, Negros Occidental perenially faces eight major types of hazards, of which 75 percent are natural and about 25 percent man-made.
Disasters normally experienced in the province include typhoons, floods, earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, fires, and vehicular accidents.
Recently, Kanlaon volcano showed increased activity. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) urged LGUs, especially those near the volcano, to review their disaster preparedness plans.
PHIVOLCS director Dr. Renato Solidum said they currently don’t see a need to increase Kanlaon’s Alert Level. However, he emphasized that local chief executives must revisit their disaster preparedness plans.
Kanlaon remains under Alert Level 1. Entry to the permanent four-kilometer danger zone is prohibited.
Among the LGUs that needed Solidum’s call were San Carlos City and Bago City.
San Carlos City’s Mayor Renato Gustilo alerted the villages of Quezon and Codcod which were nearest the volcano. He urged residents to be ready at all times.
The villages’ evacuation plans prepared a few years ago were reviewed.
High-risk sitios were also identified, the evacuation sites, pickup points, evacuation protocols and related concerns.
In Bago City, Mary Jane Ortizo, head of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO), said they were monitoring the volcano’s activities and were releasing daily public advisories.
The Bago City DRRMO also attended the pre-disaster risk assessment meeting led by the Negros Occidental Provincial DRRMO, and have begun stocking up on facemasks, food and non-food items.
According to Ortizo, they were reviewing their contingency plans and have identified the villages of Ilijan and Mailom as the first to be affected in the event of a volcanic eruption.
The two barangays are located close to Kanlaon and have a combined population of more than 12,000 people.
Ortizo advised the two villages to also review their disaster plans./PN
