Philippines prepares Meantime, the National Disaster Risk - TopicsExpress

Philippines prepares Meantime, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) expressed optimism Wednesday on preparedness measures for the incoming super typhoon that is expected to hit central Philippines on Friday afternoon. The cyclone is expected to directly affect the Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and up to the Bicol Region. In a press briefing, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that they have drawn up an action plan. Bohol province is a special concern for the NDRRMC because the communities on the island were severely affected by the recent magnitude 7.2 earthquake last October 15. Authorities were told by PAGASA that super typhoon Yolanda will not hit Bohol directly. PAGASA Director Vic Malano said Yolanda was still in the Pacific Ocean, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, and was packing sustained winds of 175 kph, based on the bureaus measurements. Malano said cyclones gain strength while moving across the ocean. The state weather bureau, in a press briefing Wednesday, said Yolanda could be strongest typhoon to hit the country this year. Hospitals in Bohol were advised to evacuate their patients from buildings, and those staying in tents were told to go to more sturdy shelters. The Bohol provincial government is now looking for new evacuation sites for people fleeing the cyclones wrath. Most evacuation centers in the province were destroyed during the recent quake. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the government is now trying to look for safer structures for quake victims in Bohol. The DSWD said 83,203 packs of relief goods are already pre-postioned in areas that will be hit by the super typhoon. The Department of Education, meanwhile, ordered school officials to coordinate with barangay officials for the possible conversion of schools into evacuation centers. So far, only Albay Governor Joey Salceda and Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide have sent word to the NDRRMC on the declaration of class suspensions in all levels starting Thursday in their respective areas. The DPWH is also pre-positioning equipment in areas on the supertyphoons path. Romblon, meanwhile, has been placed on red alert, the provincial government said. Tony Salsona, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the move will help prepare Rombon which could be directly hit by the super typhoon. Fishermen in the province have also been barred from going out to sea.