CEBU CITY – The city government showed its readiness in case a weather disturbance affects the city in the coming days.
Amid forecasts of a possible typhoon that may affect the island of Cebu within the week, this city on Tuesday, November 14, gathered its emergency response personnel and disaster response equipment at the City Hall grounds in an activity that was described as a “show of force.”
AMBULANCES and other disaster response equipment owned by the Cebu City government are presented to the public as the city prepares for an expected weather disturbance. (Photo from Councilor Joel Garganera)
“We put our full trust and confidence in our disaster response office. They already have the template because they have gone through a lot of disasters already,” said Vice Mayor Raymond Garcia.
Garcia said that while the forecast weather disturbance is expected to affect the city in the coming days, the city has also done necessary preparations.
“Our principle now is over preparations. We don’t want to end up regretting because we are underprepared. After what happened during the Covid-19 pandemic and typhoon ‘Odette,’ the name of the game now is over preparation,” said Garcia.
The city will continue to prepare even if the latest weather forecast showed the forecast typhoon has developed into just a low-pressure area (LPA).
“Even if it was downgraded to LPA, we will continue to prepare. We will not be complacent that’s why we call right away for this show of force,” said Garcia.
The city’s disaster’s office will operate 24 hours a day.
Garcia said the city has been upgrading its disaster response resources to make sure that the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will be able to respond to any emergencies.
“We keep on purchasing disaster response equipment because it’s the most used equipment. Because of the wear and tear, we keep on upgrading and purchasing disaster equipment and other consumables necessary for our disaster response,” said Garcia.
Garcia said the city will meet with various stakeholders as part of the preparation.
During the meeting, the city will ask establishments to ensure that they will have enough supply.
“We will call on the retailers that they should have enough supply like medicines. Our gas stations should have enough stock of fuel,” said Garcia, who is the city's acting mayor while Mayor Michael Rama is on a foreign trip.