Iloilo City, NegOcc gear up for ‘Auring’

All assets are in place in Iloilo City and Negros Occidental in preparation for the onslaught of Tropical Storm Auring.

The Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) has prepositioned relief goods for residents who might be affected of the typhoon.

As of February 18, 2021, CSWDO has a stockpile of 232 sacks of rice, 320 boxes of canned goods, 506 pieces of blankets, 628 mats, and 928 mosquito nets.

CSWDO is also closely coordinating with the barangay officials for the designated evacuation centers per district.

For the district of Arevalo, the designated evacuation centers are the Arevalo Gym, Arevalo Elementary School, and Sto. Domingo Elementary School whereas in City Proper the evacuation centers are Iloilo Central Elementary School, Montes Elementary School, and Rizal Elementary School.

On the other hand, La Paz district has designated evacuation centers particularly in La Paz National High School, Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U), and Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School.

Two evacuation centers have been designated in Lapuz specifically in Jalandoni Elementary School and Ingore Elementary School.

For the big districts, eight evacuation centers have been designated in Jaro, seven in Mandurriao and six in Molo, comprising mostly of elementary schools and universities located in their respective areas.

The Iloilo City government is also closely monitoring the low-lying and coastal barangays which are identified as high-risk for storm surges.

On Sunday, the barangays of Cubay, Bito-on, Quintin Salas, Sinikway, Mansaya, Libertad, Ingore, Hinactacan, Caingin in the districts of Jaro, Lapuz, and Lapaz intensified their information drive to alert their constituents to take necessary measures to prepare for the typhoon.

Meanwhile, Brgy. General Hughes, Flores and Muelle Loney in City Proper prepared relief goods for repacking whereas Brgy. Airport, Hibao-an, and Onate De Leon in Mandurriao mobilized their emergency equipment and first-aid kit in preparation for the possible effects of Auring.

On Saturday, February 20, Mayor Jerry Treñas placed Iloilo City on “blue alert” status in anticipation of Typhoon Auring. Hence, all disaster response personnel in the metro are on alert status.

The mayor has also instructed the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (BDRRMCs) to activate their respective Barangay Operations Center to conduct disaster preparedness measures.

Iloilo City has been placed under Storm Signal No. 1 due to Typhoon Auring based on the advisory issued by PAGASA on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) has prepared its Search and Rescue (SAR) contingents for Tropical Storm “Auring.”

The SAR company composed of two SAR trained teams and one security team were organized during the activation of the Disaster Incident Management Task Group (DIMTG)-Nocppo last Saturday.

As part of the activation of the task group of the provincial police force, a tactical operations center was established which will coordinate with the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD).

Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, Nocppo’s deputy public information officer, said the SAR teams are composed of 26 personnel, who will be deployed to assist in evacuations as augmentation to local units.

Donasco said that the 1st and 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (Nocpmfc) also prepared some personnel for deployment in case there’s need for assistance.

Donasco said the remaining personnel at the headquarters will be on alert at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr., here as Standby Reserve Reactionary Force.

She also said that personnel in city and municipal police stations are on full alert, as they were directed to activate their respective teams.

Colonel Romy Palgue, Nocppo director, called on Negrosanons especially those living in low-lying areas which are prone to flooding and landslide to evacuate early for their safety. (Glazyl Y. Masculino and ERS)