#RubyPH: Iloilo City to declare ‘state of imminent danger’ The declaration, ahead of an actual disaster, will enable the city government to release funds needed for various emergency operations ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The Iloilo council is set to declare the city under state of imminent danger on Friday morning, December 5, in anticipation of the widespread damage that Typhoon Ruby (international code: Hagupit) may cause. Mayor Jed Mabilog and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) relayed the request for a resolution on Thursday afternoon. The declaration, ahead of an actual disaster, will enable the city government to release funds needed for various emergency operations. Typhoon Ruby is expected to affect 50 provinces in Eastern Visayas and surrounding regions, including Western Visayas, where Iloilo is located. They are the same areas that have yet to receover from the devastation brought about by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013. “We have passed a resolution requesting the City Council to hold a special session at 10:00 a.m. on Friday so we can declare a State of Imminent Danger for Iloilo City,” Mabilog said. It would also give authority to the local chief executive to suspend classes and work on Saturday, December 6, when the typhoon is expected to make landfall. On Thursday, all classes were suspended at noon to allow students studying in Iloilo City to go home to their towns. The Bureau of Fire Protection and the Iloilo City Police Office were set to deploy teams to lead pre-emptive evacuation of residents from coastal villages and low-lying areas. On standby to bring residents to evacuation centers are 5 dump trucks from the City Engineers Office, 3 dump trucks from the General Services Office, and 24 buses from Vallacar Transit. Be vigilant and dont wait for the government to do all the things in times of disaster and the barangays should already prepare their evacuation plans, said Mabilog. The CDRRMC designated the following public and private schools as evacuation sites: John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation in Molo district University of the Philippines - Iloilo City campus University of Iloilo University of San Agustin-Sambag Campus Central Philippine University Western Visayas College of Science and Technology West Visayas State University Philippine Science High School in Balabagao Mandurriao Elementary School The city social services office will distribute food to affected barangays in cooperation. Rescue and fire volunteers will be assigned to all evacuation centers together with the Red Cross, Iloilo Citizens Action Group, and Fil- Chinese Federation of Fire and Rescue groups. Other groups taking part in the Typhoon Ruby operations are Tiger Shark, Royal Eagle, Mountain Tigers, Arevalo Rescue Group and Navy Rescue. The 3rd floor of Iloilo City Hall has been turned into a command center. All private and public hospitals were placed under Code White, which, according to the Department of Health, means there is potential for mass casualty and hospitals should have enough stocks of emergency medicines, especially those for trauma. – Rappler (The writer is a volunteer for the Typhoon Yolanda Story Hub Visayas, a citizen journalism portal created by veteran journalists, student writers, mobile journalists, and photographers based in Iloilo City. The Hub delivers reports from across the Panay Island.) Stay alert and ready with the latest weather and disaster information through Project Agos. Jus Tine Ricablanca Emjae Horan Stylinson Malik
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 02:27:38 +0000
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