No deaths in Cebu from Ruby, says province, OCD

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu achieved its ‘zero casualty’ target during typhoon Ruby.

“Our strong collaboration led to almost zero casualty. While we recorded casualties during the time of typhoon Ruby, they were technically not typhoon related. We have to consider the circumstan-ces that led to their deaths,” said Office of the Civil Defense-7 Director Oliva Luces yesterday.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management  Office also agrees.

“Technically, yes (achieving zero casualty). In terms of preparation, we were able to prevent big problems. No injuries were reported. Seven teams were sent to verify our data. Team 4 and 5 have returned, others have not. But we don’t want to be complacent. We still have a lot to improve,” Cebu PDRRMC chief Baltazar Tribunalo said.

Two individuals were reported dead in Cebu: Felipe Baring from Bogo City who died of hypothermia and Jimmy Cardente of Malabuyoc who died of electrocution.

However, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council did not consider the two cases as related to Ruby, as it was not the typhoon that caused the deaths directly.

Tribunalo also pointed out that Baring was not included in the official list of Bogo City in its Family Disaster Preparedness Plan because of his mental disorder and for having no family.

However, the report by Department of Health-7 Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) counted the two deaths as typhoon-related. The same report discussed the circumstances that led to the death of Baring and Cardente on December 7, 2014.

Baring’s death was “allegedly caused by hypothermia aggravated by the bad weather; known aggressive schizophrenic patient abandoned by family; was encouraged to go to an evacuation center; last seen roaming around town during the typhoon; found at public slaughter house dead; no autopsy done by CHO (city health office).”

Cardente, on the other hand, was “accidentally electrocuted in Barangay Cerdena, Malabuyoc town.”

Furthermore, typhoon related injuries were recorded in La Libertad and Guihulngan in Negros Oriental as well as in Bohol, all motorcycle vehicle accidents.

Non-typhoon related deaths were likewise listed by DOH in Medellin (Amada Tupos, diagnosed with tuberculosis and kidney failure), Bantayan (Virginia Solitario, died of thyrotoxicosis and hypertension) and Poro, Camotes (Juan Lepetin, uncontrolled hypertension).

OCD-7 operations officer Verneil Balaba said the new guidelines of the PDRRMC designates the DOH as the agency to determine if the casualty is typhoon-related or otherwise. — (FREEMAN)