Govt lists ‘lessons learned’ in typhoon aftermath

THE government learned a number of lessons following the catastrophe caused by the Typhoon “Ompong” in Northern Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Wednesday. Ricardo Jalad, the council’s executive director, emphasized that pre-emptive evacuation of residents in affected areas should be fully implemented to prevent casualties.

Jalad also pointed to the need for active participation of local government units and local chief executives in evacuation and preparations for coming typhoons.

Itogon, Benguet, where a landslide killed dozens of miners, he noted, was known for accidents during calamities.

Before Ompong hit ground, the council called for the pre-emptive evacuation of all residents in northern Luzon provinces to prevent casualties, rather than forced evacuations, Jalad said.

He reiterated that forced evacuation would be up to provincial leaders.

“That’s up to the leadership on the ground because that is their responsibility. It is impossible for me to see everything on the ground. For me, what we have been pushing for is pre-emptive evacuation and we did that,” he told reporters.

The council, he said, had signed an agreement with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to issue a directive to enforce pre-emptive evacuations.

Jalad said pre-emptive evacuation was seen as an “inconvenience” by residents, especially in Gonzaga, Cagayan.

“They are very delicate there when it comes to storm surges. They evacuated, yes, but they still left one member per family in each household to ensure the security of their things,” he explained.

103 dead

Among the deadly accidents caused by the typhoon was the collapse of a bunkhouse in Ucab village, Itogon, Benguet, wherein authorities have retrieved 41 bodies so far.

Authorities also recorded 11 dead in Baguio City and three in La Trinidad, Benguet. The death toll has climbed to 103.

The Cordillera police said more than 50 persons remained missing at the bunkhouse site, and four in Baguio City.