OCD chief says Region 6 ready for disasters amid COVID-19

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

National and local authorities are still prepared for other disasters amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in the region, Office of Civil Defense Region 6 (OCD-6) Regional Director Jose Roberto Nuñez said on Tuesday.

In a press conference, Nuñez said that while the pandemic was still ravaging the region, the OCD-6 and the RDRRMC are preparing for all eventualities.

“While we are still being challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are assuring the public that we are not wavering our preparedness against any other hazards to ensure the safety of our public,” Nuñez said.

As to response capabilities, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has coordinated with local government units (LGU) in coming up with a contingency plan according to Nuñez.

Nuñez chairs both the RDRRMC and the Western Visayas Regional Task Force on COVID-19 (WVRTF).

“From the start we have had contingency plans, which is important for each local government unit. For example, the contingency plan for the Mount Kanlaon eruption, there already is one. From time to time, we update the [Provincial DRRM Office] in Negros Occidental. There is also close coordination with neighboring municipalities within Mount Kanlaon to address what is lacking in the contingency plan,” the director said.

Nuñez recapped the status of COVID-19 in the region and the actions undertaken by national and local government offices in response to the situation.

Aside from the pandemic, the OCD-6 is also closely monitoring the tremors brought by Mount Kanlaon in Negros Island, which recorded 136 earthquakes in the morning of June 23.

The region remains on Alert Level 1 according to the Philippine Institute on Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

An inter-agency group called Task Group Kanlaon headed by the RDRRMC is currently being proposed to focus on the preparedness and response operations related to any developing activities of the volcano.

The RDRRMC is also preparing evacuation centers, hospitals, emergency landing zones, support vehicles, and communication systems.

Nuñez also stated that the RDRRMC is actively taking steps in preparing against the brunt of the rainy season in the region.

LGUs have also been mandated by the RDRRRMC to submit their plans in preparation for the rainy season.