MISAMIS ORIENTAL CAPITOL INTENSIFIES PREPARATION FOR TYPHOON VINTA

Rescuers in Misamis Oriental would likely not to celebrate Christmas Eve alongside their families as Governor Bambi Emano has released directive to raise calamity alarm status to red on December 23, 2017, on the threatening super typhoon to hit Mindanao anytime.

“Kung dili matunaw, the provincial government can do only so much. But we’ve prepared what we can if it happens. Based on media reports, the landfall will hit that is greater than the previous typhoon that hit Mindanao (in 2011),” Governor Emano said.

Governor Emano said as early as Tuesday, December 19, he had a briefing with his department heads and rescue personnel of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) on rescue measures and relief goods if calamity strikes.
“So, I’ve talked with the department heads already and prepared everything by December 23, and told them…and even apologized to their families that we might not be able to celebrate Christmas with them because we will be preparing for the calamity. Hopefully it will not come, but all our heavy equipment, all our disaster teams, the PDRRMO will always be on red alert during that time,” the governor added.

As of the moment, Governor Emano said the Capitol has 500 strong personnel of the PDRRMO with different expertise who will be on red alert including the eight province-owned hospitals to cater medical needs of the residents.

Governor Emano also called on the national government to fast track the construction of the mega dike in Barangay Carmen to avoid repeat of the “big one”, Tropical Storm Sendong.

“We really actually need the mega dike. We cannot afford anymore of another Sendong to hit us, which we call the big one, and we’ll be losing lives again in the province and in the city of Cagayan de Oro. We are calling on the national government, especially the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) to as soon as possible at least fast track the construction of mega dike,” he said.

Governor Emano even said he is willing to accommodate the temporary transfer of national offices like the Commission on Audit (COA-10) which will be affected by the construction of the dike at the Provincial Capitol until such time that they can already have their own building “to actually show that we really need the mega dike as soon as possible.”

“For the provincial government, it will be limited because the people that would be (greatly) affected are the residents of Cagayan de Oro. But what we can do for the national offices which will be affected that they would be able to use the vacant facilities and offices of the provincial Capitol for the meantime that they cannot be able to transfer or build their own facilities,” the governor assured. - MISORPIO