As rains start, government rushes relocation

MANILA, Philippines - With rains starting this week, the government is putting up safety measures along major waterways to protect residents from flooding when typhoons hit.

Speaking to reporters, presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said the National Housing Authority was able to relocate only about 2,000 families from the danger zones because of lack of funds.

 “We are talking about a rather massive relocation effort,” he said. “The waterway areas where we are clearing people may have to be moved quite a distance away.”

Saludo, who heads the secretariat of the Special National Public Reconstruction Commission, said between 100,000 to 200,000 families need to be moved from communities along the Marikina River, Pasig River and Laguna de Bay.

“Many of their areas may no longer be habitable (and) not viable for any economic activity because they’re now submerged, they really have to move out,” he added.

Saludo said the relocation process is no easy task, as in the case of the 80,000 residents along the Philippine National Railways who were moved to new settlements after four years.

“It’s a more challenging situation, not only that we are looking at a bigger number of people but the actual transfer of these communities will have greater demands in terms of livelihood and relocation sites for them and, of course, funding,” he said, adding that the estimated cost of relocation would be around P22 billion.

When the national budget was submitted to Congress, there was very little allocated for reconstruction, he pointed out.

However, this year would be different as the Department of Budget and Management has asked agencies to submit funding proposals for reconstruction.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and local authorities are rushing to set up an alarm system, rain gauges and flood forecasting setups to alert communities in danger zones of an impending disaster. Once an alarm is raised, the NDCC and local governments would set in motion an evacuation effort.

Residents seek rescue training

Residents of Metro Manila have asked the Coast Guard to give them crash courses on search and rescue operations in preparation for the rainy season.

Lt. Cmdr. Arman Balilo, Coast Guard spokesman, said they have been receiving requests for training from various communities in Metro Manila since last month.

“The first request came from community leaders from Parañaque City,” he said.

“There are also barangays from Quezon City, such as Barangay Bahay Toro, which were affected by last year’s floods. We also receive requests from some areas in Caloocan and Taguig City.”

Balilo said student organizations have also sought the same assistance.

Among them are the Technological Institute of the Philippines in Manila and in Quezon City, he added.

Balilo said the Coast Guard in Northern Luzon is coordinating with La Union’s Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council for a five-day training on water search and rescue, and rubber boat operation and maintenance.

The Coast Guard is readying a plan for rescue operations on land and water.

They will coordinate with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, shipping lines, and the Bureau of Customs, he added.

Balilo said the Coast Guard has asked communities to invest in rubber boats, since they are the first line of operations in search and rescue in case of floods.

Balilo said mobile teams comprised of divers will be deployed in communities in Metro Manila to provide training to residents.

“We would be providing training for free on rubber boat handling and maintenance and basic first aid,” he said. “In return, we have asked them to acquire rubber boats in their barangays.” 

Police get ready for rainy season

Police have drawn up a disaster preparedness plan ahead of the rainy season.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa has directed police regional, provincial and station commanders nationwide to be ready for the rainy season. 

“With the rainy and stormy months expected until November, families and communities need to prepare themselves for emergencies,” he said.

“Staying one step ahead of the next disaster is increasingly important. The lessons learned from our experience in the series of weather disturbances in 2009, particularly during the onslaught of storm ‘Ondoy’ and typhoon ‘Pepeng,’ should prompt us to find better ways of ensuring readiness to effectively address similar situations in the future.” Verzosa has activated Letter of Instruction “Saklolo,” an updated and enhanced plan of action on disaster preparedness and response management.

LOI Saklolo prescribes the support strategy, operational concept, and scheme of implementation to accomplish support missions in times of disaster and calamity.

Verzosa said LOI Saklolo empowers police regional directors, in their capacity as chairman of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Committee, to mobilize police and resources for disaster rescue and relief operations.

 “We are activating our disaster response plan ahead of time to allow concerned units time to prepare their equipment and resources, and to organize and train their personnel for the mission at hand,” he said.

The PNP disaster preparedness plan is in line with the government’s declaration of Disaster Preparedness Month in July of each year.

The Special Action Force, Maritime Group and Public Safety Management Forces have search and rescue units capable of rapid deployment and quick response during emergencies, he added.

Last year, the PNP acquired 75 inflatable boats and other special equipment for search and rescue operations. Early this month, the PNP received a donation of 1,000 raincoats from the Manila Jaycees. – With Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe