Negros Occ, Bacolod braces for Ruby

CEBU, Philippines – As the Negros Occidental provincial government braces for Typhoon Ruby, three local government units in the province have been identified to have  "very high vulnerability" to flooding while four others have "very high vulnerability" to landslides.

This was disclosed by Provincial Environment Management Officer Wilfredo Ramon Peñalosa during a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, chaired by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., who directed local government units to take all measures to ensure the safety of the people.

Negros Occidental, which is on orange alert, is under Storm Signal No. 1 hoisted by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Peñalosa said Talisay City and the towns of Toboso and Moises Padilla have topped the vulnerability assessment to flooding during heavy rains and typhoons in the province while those with "very high vulnerability" to landslides were Talisay City and the towns of Salvador Benedicto, Murcia and Toboso.

The 22 LGUs with "high vulnerability" to flooding are the cities of Kabankalan, La Carlota, Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay and Victorias, and the towns of Binalbagan, Calatrava, Candoni, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Isabela, La Castellana, Manapla, Pontevedra, Salvador Benedicto, San Enrique and Valladolid.

Those highly vulnerable to landslides are: the cities of Sagay, San Carlos, Victorias, Cadiz, Escalante, La Carlota, Sipalay and Kabankalan, and the towns of Calatrava, Manapla, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan, Candoni, Cauayan, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Isabela, ,La Castellana, Pontevedra, San Enrique and Valladolid.

Marañon advised people in coastal areas, or low-lying communities near rivers to follow pre-emptive evacuation orders from authorities. He also reminded fishermen not to venture out to open seas and keep their fishing boats in safe grounds. "But more than the prayers, we also have to prepare," he said.

The Capitol has already set up the Disaster Relief Operations Center at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center in Bacolod City, manned by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, headed by Liane Garcia, who said they started 24-hour operations since Friday.

Garcia said  re-packing of relief goods started two days ago and after Tropical Depression Queenie slammed southern Negros Occidental last week. Her office also welcomed volunteers to help in the distribution.

Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella advised the residents in the coastal barangays and flood-prone areas to be on alert and evacuate if necessary. He added that emergency response teams, volunteer groups and the City Health Office are now on standby when Ruby hits the city.

Senior Superintendent Pedrito Escarilla, officer-in-charge of the Bacolod City Police Office, Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, and Colonel Jon Aying, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said 500 policemen and 500 soldiers were deployed to Bacolod and in the province yesterday.

Aying added that K9 units are also ready in case of search and rescue operations, and that the troops will use military radios if communication system will collapse.