Bicol raises response alert to red; 1.2K stranded due to Aghon

LEGAZPI CITY – Bicol’s Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) on Saturday raised the alert level of all disaster response offices to red due to Tropical Depression Aghon.

In a memorandum, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 5 (Bicol) director and RDRRMC chairperson Claudio Yucot said raising the alert status from blue to red would “ensure the highest level of coordination among all response offices.”

"Under the emergency preparedness and response protocols, Bicol is placed under high-risk protocol. Response clusters with different national government agencies as lead agencies are activated," Yucot said.

These agencies include the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for food and non-food items and camp coordination and management in case of evacuation, the Department of Information and Communications Technology for emergency telecommunications, Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 for law and order, and Joint Task Force Bicolandia for search, rescue, and retrieval.

Yucot said the Philippine Coast Guard and all provincial DRRMOs should ensure that the no sailing policy is implemented.

He also emphasized that due to possible interruption of electricity, mobile, and Internet connections, provincial and local DRMMCs have been advised to explore all means of communicating advisories to the community.

Stranded passengers

A total of 1,277 passengers remain stranded in different ports in the Bicol Region due to Aghon, OCD-5 reported on Saturday.

Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD-5 spokesperson, said the passengers were in six ports in the provinces of Albay, Masbate, and Sorosgon.

The report from Coast Guard District Bicol as of 8 a.m. showed that 350 passengers were in Matnog port in Sorsogon; 211 in Tabaco port in Albay; 380 in Pioduran port in Albay; 290 in Pilar port in Sorsogon; 26 in Bulan port in Sorsogon, and 20 in Mobo port in Masbate.

Naz said rolling cargoes were also stranded mostly at the Pioduran port in Albay – 105; San Andres port –12, and Virac port – 3 in Catanduanes; Mobo port – 10 and Mintac port – 11 in Masbate; Matnog port – 45, Bulan port – 4, and Pilar port – 68 all in Sorsogon.

"There are also 45 vessels and 10 motorized bancas temporarily taking shelter. There was an existing sea travel advisory that all trips were suspended since all provinces in the region are placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1," Naz said.

Bicol police in full alert status

PRO-5 Director Brig. Gen Andre P. Dizon, said all Bicol police stations and units are on full alert status in response to Aghon.

"This measure is to ensure the availability of resources and personnel for potential disaster response operations in areas threatened by the tropical depression," he said.

Dizon said PRO-5 has activated its Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF), Search, Rescue, and Retrieval (SRR) teams, as well as the Quick Response Team (QRT), who are ready to assist in case of evacuation of affected individuals.

He also urged the public to remain safe and alert amid the storm.

"Let us stay alert and follow the directives of our local chief executives, especially concerning preemptive evacuation. Rest assured that the authorities, including our police force, are prepared to ensure your safety from the threats posed by the typhoon," Dizon said.

Family food packs

Meanwhile, the DSWD-5 reported that 143,787 family food packs (FFPs) and other available relief resources are ready for distribution to local government units.

The FFPs were prepositioned at the request of affected LGUs, DSWD-5 spokesperson Marygizelle Mesa said in a message.

Each family food pack can feed a family of five for two days.

She said that aside from the food packs, they have 37,432 non-food items, such as family, sleeping, hygiene, and kitchen kits.

The agency also has PHP338,500 in standby fund for the purchase of additional food packs and kits when needed. (PNA)