BACOLOD CITY – This city and Negros Occidental are prepared to respond to any emergency from severe tropical storm “Auring.”
Executive Assistant Jose Maria Vargas convened the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) for a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment and Emergency Preparedness for Response to strengthen the city’s Auring response Thursday.
According to Vargas, Auring is estimated to hit Bacolod Sunday night or Monday morning.
“We are very cautious of flood-prone areas such as those in Barangays 2, 8, 10, 16, Bata, Banago, Pahanocoy, and Villamonte,” Vargas said.
Excavation and dredging for creeks are ongoing since Feb. 1. Trees were pruned in several areas of the city and uprooted trees were removed to prevent any untoward incidents.
The CDRRMC has set up a Command Center at the Annex Building of the Bacolod City Government Center.
“All the reports will be conveyed at the Command Center and the response teams will also be stationed there,” Vargas said.
He added that they have already coordinated rescue, transportation, and evacuation facilities with the Department of Education (DepEd).
Police will handle the patrolling; the Bureau of Fire Protection will provide water in the evacuation center; and the City Health Office will manage the medical facilities if ever there will be evacuation. We will also be activating our barangay health centers, Vargas said.
Vargas assured the public that the city’s emergency response system is ready. He advised everyone to immediately contact barangay officials or the police, whoever is nearer, in case of emergency.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) was placed on full alert Wednesday.
PDMPD head Zeaphard Caelian urged LGUs to be extra vigilant amid the continuing threat of the coronavirus.