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Thursday, March 28, 2024

QC rescuers placed on yellow alert

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ANTICIPATING heavy rains due to tropical storm “Gorio,” the Quezon City government on Saturday placed its disaster action team on yellow alert to be ready to respond to areas that could be affected by floods.

Elmo San Diego, QC Department of Public Order and Safety chief, said there will be more rains in Metro Manila when “Gorio” gains strength and pulls wind and rain toward the metropolis.

A retired police general, San Diego is also the vice chairman of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

“Expect problems due to incessant rains. The disaster action team is on standby and on-call alert status this weekend,” he said.

The team is composed of well-trained emergency responders, including paramedics, that can perform search and rescue missions on urban, water, and wilderness terrain.

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The city’s Engineering Department, Parks Development and Administration Department, and the Environment Protection and Waste Management Department—the key departments in maintaining waterways and related structures—are working double time to address clogged drainages and uprooted trees.

San Diego reminded all department heads to keep their phone lines open during the weekend and report immediately when needed.

“We don’t have to call and call you up. Respond immediately. It is important your line of communication remains open,” he said.

GORIO’S WRATH. A man looks at a pile of trash that covered a portion of the Manila Bay washed ashore after Typhoon ‘Gorio’ hit the country.  Below, members of the Department of Public Order and Safety and NDRRMO workers in Quezon City pool their efforts to remove branches of the trees along Agham Road in Quezon City which fell after they were hit by strong winds by the typhoon. Manny Palmero and AFP

San Diego said the emergency operations Center can be reached through 122, 922-3227 and 987-8887.

Meanwhile, elementary and high school students in Quezon City were told to be always ready and aware on how to prepare for disasters.

The students were among those who attend the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Youth Forum and Expo at the Philippine Information Agency Auditorium on Wednesday. The event was organized by the Office of the Civil Defense-National Capital Region.

The activity is in line with the National Disaster Resilience Month with the theme: “4Ks: Kamalayan sa Kahandaan, Katumbas ay Kaligtasan.” 

During the forum, OCD-NCR Regional Director Romulo Cabantac highlighted the concept of “disaster resiliency” to the school children. 

“It’s important to have activities like this for the children so when disaster comes, they won’t panic, and they’ll be observant and flexible,” Cabantac said.

Aside from earthquakes, flood and typhoon preparedness, the students also learned basic life support and knot-tying techniques taught by the members of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices of Quezon City and Pasig. 

Lesa Ocenar, grade school teacher of San Juan Elementary School, said: “These forums are important for the kids, so at least they know what to do during emergencies. Instead of being a liability, they can even save lives if they have the knowledge like they have today, like CPR.”

The Quezon City, Pasig City and Valenzuela City DRRMOs, together with the Lord’s Hand Integrated School and the Office of the Civil Defense, also viewed the exhibit of disaster reduction equipment at the lobby of the PIA office.

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