PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) — The Office of Civil Defence (OCD) has convened an emergency operations center for rescue and relief efforts to affected individuals in flood-hit areas, particularly in Palawan, and awaits the post-disaster needs assessment analysis (PDNA) to further identify affected areas.
OCD Spokesperson Chris Bendijo said the office monitors the evacuation centers as well as rescue operations currently conducted in Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, and the Bicol region.
OCD is working with local government units, as well as concerned agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the needed interventions.
“We are in coordination with the local government—para ng sa gayon ay whole-of-government approach in accordance with the instruction of the President na pagdating sa sakuna talagang tulong-tulong kasi multi-perspective ito,” Bendijo said.
The rescue operations were conducted with the assistance of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Puerto Princesa Police Office, and Marine Battalion Landing Team. This, after the heavy rains experienced on Sunday, February 9, due to a shear line, which brought flooding to different portions of Puerto Princesa City, as well as southern towns in Palawan.
As per Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), there are 797 affected families in Palawan with a total number of 3,022 affected individuals as of 12 P.M. of Feb. 10.
About 571 families are now transferred to the evacuation centers with a total of 2,049 individuals, while 226 families remain outside the evacuation center with a total of 973 individuals.
Six towns have suspended work and classes at both public and private levels. In an earlier report of the Puerto Princesa City DRRMC, 60 evacuation centers are now used for evacuees from different portions of the city.
OCD shares the view that weather systems are now bringing impacts such as flooding, and there is a need to intensify the focus on flood control projects as a long-term solution.
Sentiments from locals made the rounds online about the need to immediately implement the flood control projects after experiencing areas submerged in knee-to-waist-deep waters in Puerto Princesa City.
“Agree tayo dyan na ang ating weather systems ay nagdudulot ng kakaibang epekto gaya ng pagbabaha kung kaya’t sa long term ay atin itong isasaayos. Ang ating flood control baka kailangan pa natin paigtingin dahil pati itong mga shear line ay nagdudulot na ng matinding pag-ulan kung kaya nagkakaroon ng pagbabaha,” he said.
Bendijo said the DSWD has already sent food packs to evacuation centers, and OCD eyes to tap uniformed personnel, such as the Philippine Air Force, to airlift goods to isolated areas where bridges have been damaged.
He added that PDNA will help OCD in identifying residents who require rescue. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan
