CEBU CITY – The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7) has been placed on alert due to the possible effects of tropical storm “Auring.”
Police Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo, chief of PRO 7, has instructed police stations in the region to prepare their search and rescue equipment for any eventualities.
Police Col. Aladdin Collado, chief of the Cebu provincial police, said they have already coordinated with the crisis response section of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion for the deployment of personnel in northern Cebu which was expected to be affected by Auring Sunday.
“We already alerted most of the towns in the northern part of Cebu and in fact the whole province,” said Collado.
Collado said police station chiefs were also instructed to conduct regular patrols in coastal areas. “If needed, we are ready to conduct evacuation,” said Collado.
Cebu was placed under red alert status Saturday noon which means emergency responders and uniformed personnel and reservists were ready for deployment.
Provincial and district hospitals were also placed on code white.
The Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office and the 131st Battalion of Philippine Marines have also prepared rescue trucks and other equipment that will be used for emergencies.
Rhee Telen, spokesperson of PDRRMO, said Tuburan and Asturias are among the priorities due to their history of massive flooding.