Govt to deploy 36,000 rescuers
THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Saturday that more than 36,000 rescue personnel and assets had been positioned to respond quickly to any damage caused by Super Typhoon Pepito, which was expected to batter the country over the weekend. OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said the rescue troops include personnel of the OCD, Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire Protection, as well as local government units. All land, sea and air assets supporting these rescue personnel are positioned to ensure quick deployment once needed, Nepomuceno said. Nepomuceno said the combined transportation assets of these services and agencies total 2,299, consisting of land vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and Navy and Coast Guard vessels. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), meanwhile, said it maintains a national stockpile of 1.3 million family food packs (FFPs) that meets the needs of local government units (LGUs) still recovering from recent storms, as well as those who may be affected by Typhoon Pepito. "We're not dropping that, and we're now utilizing two supply lines from Central Luzon, Pasay City and Cebu," DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said. Gatchalian said the agency was increasing its repacking operations and acquiring prepackaged food packs to speed up preparations for Typhoon Pepito. Several organizations have also mobilized their resources in preparation for Pepito's landfall in the Bicol Region and surrounding areas. In a statement on Saturday, Ako Bicol party-list, led by Rep. Elizaldy Co, together with Speaker Martin Romualdez, said they had distributed new rubber boats to municipalities and government agencies to enhance the region's emergency response capabilities. Heavy equipment is also on standby to address potential landslides, floods and other hazards associated with the typhoon. Co said that the new rubber boats and heavy equipment were part of its efforts to ensure preparedness in situations such as typhoons, describing them as "investments in the safety and resilience" of the Bicol region. Meanwhile, Legazpi City Mayor Alfredo Garbin said that he had ordered the preventive evacuation of its residents in geohazard areas as Pepito approached. "Evacuate now while you still can, not when the floods and strong winds are already causing devastation," Garbin said. Camarines Sur Gov. Luigi Villafuerte has also deployed evacuation teams in high-risk areas of Camarines Sur, including in those fully submerged due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. They were deployed in the towns of Nabua, Bula, Buhi, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Lagonoy, Canaman, Minalabac, Milaor, Camaligan, Baao, Tinambac, Gainza, Calabanga, and Magarao and are expected to assist the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices. Alternative evacuation centers for the towns that were submerged by Kristine were also prepared. The Department of Health (DOH) said it was on "code white alert" and ready to deploy emergency response teams amid the impending onslaught of Pepito. Under Code White Alert, health personnel and staff in public hospitals are on standby to quickly receive those who need medical attention due to the typhoon," the DOH said in an advisory dated Nov. 15.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Saturday that more than 36,000 rescue personnel and assets had been positioned to respond quickly to any damage caused by Super Typhoon Pepito, which was expected to batter the country over the weekend.
OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said the rescue troops include personnel of the OCD, Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Bureau of Fire Protection, as well as local government units.
All land, sea and air assets supporting these rescue personnel are positioned to ensure quick deployment once needed, Nepomuceno said.
Nepomuceno said the combined transportation assets of these services and agencies total 2,299, consisting of land vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and Navy and Coast Guard vessels.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), meanwhile, said it maintains a national stockpile of 1.3 million family food packs (FFPs) that meets the needs of local government units (LGUs) still recovering from recent storms, as well as those who may be affected by Typhoon Pepito.
"We're not dropping that, and we're now utilizing two supply lines from Central Luzon, Pasay City and Cebu," DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian said the agency was increasing its repacking operations and acquiring prepackaged food packs to speed up preparations for Typhoon Pepito.
Several organizations have also mobilized their resources in preparation for Pepito's landfall in the Bicol Region and surrounding areas.
In a statement on Saturday, Ako Bicol party-list, led by Rep. Elizaldy Co, together with Speaker Martin Romualdez, said they had distributed new rubber boats to municipalities and government agencies to enhance the region's emergency response capabilities.
Heavy equipment is also on standby to address potential landslides, floods and other hazards associated with the typhoon.
Co said that the new rubber boats and heavy equipment were part of its efforts to ensure preparedness in situations such as typhoons, describing them as "investments in the safety and resilience" of the Bicol region.
Meanwhile, Legazpi City Mayor Alfredo Garbin said that he had ordered the preventive evacuation of its residents in geohazard areas as Pepito approached.
"Evacuate now while you still can, not when the floods and strong winds are already causing devastation," Garbin said.
Camarines Sur Gov. Luigi Villafuerte has also deployed evacuation teams in high-risk areas of Camarines Sur, including in those fully submerged due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
They were deployed in the towns of Nabua, Bula, Buhi, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Lagonoy, Canaman, Minalabac, Milaor, Camaligan, Baao, Tinambac, Gainza, Calabanga, and Magarao and are expected to assist the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices.
Alternative evacuation centers for the towns that were submerged by Kristine were also prepared.
The Department of Health (DOH) said it was on "code white alert" and ready to deploy emergency response teams amid the impending onslaught of Pepito.
Under Code White Alert, health personnel and staff in public hospitals are on standby to quickly receive those who need medical attention due to the typhoon," the DOH said in an advisory dated Nov. 15.
