By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) will very likely conduct a preemptive evacuation of some areas in the city as part of their preparations for typhoon “Odette” which is expected to hit Negros island between tomorrow and Friday.
Executive Assistant Joemarie Vargas, DRRMO cluster head, said all of their equipment and assets are now in place.
Vargas said the city’s disaster council also conducted an emergency meeting yesterday for additional updates on the ongoing preparations.
Among the issues currently facing the officials of the city is converting some of the unused school buildings in the city, which were previously serving quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients, into evacuation centers.
The city’s barangay captains will also be briefed of the situation.
Vargas said flood control teams also spent the whole day clearing debris from the city’s drainage systems to either prevent or ease flooding.
The DRRMO has also helped the Central Negros Electric Cooperative in conducting emergency tree trimming activities in several parts of the city.
As to preemptive evacuations, Vargas said depending on the situation and if they see that the area has become hazardous.
“Indi lang ni ulan ang ginalantaw naton, amo man kabaskugon sang hangin [kay] magkalatumba ni ang mga kahoy sa dalanon and will cause traffic problems,” Vargas pointed out.
The Coast Guard Station (CGS)-Negros Occidental based in the city’s Barangay Banago, meanwhile, has also started making its own preparations as well.
The station has already taken out their rescue equipment, including rubber boats which would be used for rescuing residents who may become stranded in their homes due to flood waters.
Previously, CGS-Negros Occidental chief and Coast Guard District Western Visayas deputy commander Captain Ludovico Librilla said all stations and sub-stations in the province have been ordered by their district commander, Commodore Edgar Ybañez, to start conducting an inventory of their equipment and assets which would be used for rescue and relief efforts./DGB, WDJ