‘HIGHER GROUND’: LGUs asked to move evacuees inland for ‘Tino’

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Office of Civil Defense (OCD)–Western Visayas Regional Director Raul Fernandez on Monday, Nov. 3, advised local government units (LGUs) to relocate evacuees in coastal areas farther inland as Typhoon Tino is expected to bring higher-than-usual storm surges.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecaster John Baron warned that while Western Visayas remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 as of 2 p.m. Monday, it could be raised as high as TCWS No. 4.

Baron said this level may bring major damage to homes of light and average construction, structural failures in buildings, glass blowouts in high-rises, airborne debris, and power and water supply disruptions.

He also noted that public transportation and agricultural production may be significantly affected.

Baron warned of storm surges as high as 3 meters in the following areas:
• Aklan: Altavas, Batan, Buruanga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Makato, Malay, Nabas, New Washington, Numancia, Tangalan

• Antique: Anini-y, Barbaza, Belison, Bugasong, Caluya, Culasi, Hamtic, Laua-an, Libertad, Pandan, Patnongon, San Jose de Buenavista, Sebaste, Tibiao, Tobias Fornier
• Capiz: Ivisan, Panay, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, Roxas City, Sapian
• Guimaras: All five municipalities of Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, and Sibunag
• Iloilo: Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Dumangas, Estancia, Guimbal, Iloilo City, Leganes, Miagao, Oton, San Dionisio, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, Zarraga

Given the forecasted surge, Fernandez urged LGUs to evacuate residents more than 500 meters away from shorelines, especially in island and low-lying barangays.

“Local governments should take note that communities should be brought to higher ground, not just a few meters from the coastal [area],” Fernandez said in a briefing.

“To our PDRRMOs, please consider that [three-meter storm surge], especially those in the island barangays—if the storm surge is that high, you might need to evacuate more than 500 meters,” he added.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)–Western Visayas said 106,755 family food packs have been prepositioned across its regional warehouse in Oton, Iloilo, and 55 other strategic locations across the region.