The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered the concerned localities to “restrict tourist activities’’ and warn small-scale miners to cease operation in the areas affected by tropical storm "Marce".
During the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) press briefing, DILG Undersecretary Serafin Barreto Jr. asked the local officials and the department’s regional directors to prepare the evacuation areas for the possible relocation of the typhoon-affected residents.
Baretto said a memorandum was issued for the creation of “drop-off zones’’ for the easier distribution of relief goods to the recipients.
He noted that the personnel of Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) were deployed to ensure a more effective emergency and rescue operation.
Barreto also pointed out that the BJMP together with the BFP workforce are on standby that will assist the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to facilitate the “stock-piling’’ activities of the relief goods.
The DILG official stressed that cleaning activities on the waterways and declogging of the drainage systems were conducted to prepare for the possible worst scenario of flooding in the typhoon-hit areas.
As a complement to these preparations, Barreto stated that the DILG has prioritized the traffic management operations to clear key transportation routes for a trouble-free delivery of relief goods at the drop-off zones.
Barreto appealed to the affected residents to take all the necessary precautionary measures and to listen to news updates and valid information regarding the weather disturbance to ensure their safety.
The DILG has constantly reminded the public to adhere to its “Operation Listo’’ protocols to ensure their safety in times of disasters and tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) that are hoisted in the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
Before any weather disturbance occurs, the DILG asked the public to be informed on the latest advisories or updates, check any part of the house that needs repairs, prepare the “E-balde or Go Bag’’ that contain the basic and important needs and relocate animal pets to safer grounds if there are any.
At the height of the typhoon, the DILG told the affected residents to remain calm, stay indoors in their residence or evacuation centers and to listen to the latest updates on the prevailing weather conditions.
During these hours, the DILG said that the electric main switch and water valves in their residences should be turned off
With the electric power supply turned off, the DILG advised the affected residents to use flashlights or emergency lamps and to be extra careful when opting to utilize candles or kerosine lamps and to avoid staying near glass windows.
When the weather improves, the DILG said that those relocated in the evacuation centers should wait for public advisories to determine if it is safe to return to their houses, avoid toppled trees, damaged structures and electric wire connections and if possible, avoid public places so as not to obstruct or hamper the government and volunteer emergency response services to the affected areas.
Upon their return, the DILG also reminded the public to be cautious when repairing their damaged residences and to watch out for wet outlets and electrical appliances and ensure that they are dry before turning the main switch on.
To prevent dengue and spread of communicable diseases, the DILG asked the public to discard the collected water in tin cans, plant pots and old tires.
The DILG also maintained that the primary duties of the barangays in disaster resilience include the establishment and operationalization of the Barangay Risk Reduction Management Committees, the development of barangay disaster risk reduction and management plans, and the allocation of funds for disaster response and recovery.
To increase local government units’ (LGUs’) capacity, the DILG will persist in the implementation of Operation LISTO, its flagship disaster preparedness advocacy program cascaded to the barangay level through the Listo si Kap!, a checklist of proactive actions taken as preparatory and necessary measures based on the manual of higher LGUs and the disaster preparedness minimum standards.
The DILG had conducted assessment activities to gauge the performance of local government units (LGUs), including the barangays, in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management-Climate Change Adaptation (DRRM-CCA) in order to ensure that gaps are addressed and good practices are replicated.
To recall, the DILG also emphasized the crucial role the barangays played in epitomizing the resilience of Filipinos during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when they became the first line of defense in the communities against the virus and had to serve their constituents and address the situation with their available resources and manpower.