NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur (PIA)—Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. placed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on red alert on Tuesday in anticipation of the impact of Tropical Storm Opong.
During an emergency meeting of the PDRRMC, Villafuerte instructed local governments and agencies with emergency operation centers to operate 24/7 throughout the duration of the weather disturbance. He requested that all rescue equipment and response teams be placed on standby for rapid deployment.
All local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) were directed to carry out preemptive evacuations of residents in hazard-prone or potentially isolated areas.
Villafuerte also ordered the suspension of all water activities and instructed relevant agencies to enforce “no crossing” and “no swimming” policies along rivers, creeks, and other flood-prone areas.
With the permission of local chief executives, localized suspensions of classes and work may be implemented when necessary based on prevailing weather conditions to prioritize the safety of students, employees, and the general public.
In a related effort, Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo urged barangay officials to identify flood-prone areas for priority mitigation actions.
She instructed village leaders to approach willing residents to offer their homes as temporary shelters for neighbors during the storm’s passage.
Robredo also ordered the removal of water obstructions and the declogging of areas where floodwater tends to stagnate in every barangay.
“This is a collective effort. We must be proactive, not reactive. Our goal is to prevent loss of life and minimize damage to property,” Robredo emphasized.
Source: PIA Camarines Sur
