Rescue operations for residents trapped during the floods in northern Negros Occidental were hampered by the lack of equipment, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division chief Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian admitted this morning (Jan. 11).
He said the PDMPD also had difficulty implementing pre-emptive evacuation as people were hesitant to leave their homes and only called for help when their lives are already in danger.
“They should be pro-active,” Caelian said, stressing that residents should voluntarily evacuate once there is flood warning since life saving devices of local disaster units are limited.
The Philippine Army, Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire and Protection and National Police dispatched their personnel to the affected areas and provided vehicles to various local disaster units to help bring residents to safer grounds.
Caelian said that his office has requested for additional rescue equipment from the Regional Disaster Risk Management Council to deal with rescue operations.
The network of responders should be strengthened and equipment for flood rescue has to be upgraded, he added.
Caelian also stressed the need for dredging silted waterways at Malogo in Victorias and Talisay rivers and creeks as he pushed for the establishment of an early warning system from upper barangays to poblacion in every local government unit.
To avoid damage to low lying areas or downstream, he recommended for the establishment of flood retention areas that will release water slowly to tributaries. –GB
