City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Col. Alfredo Baloran bared on Friday that Davao City is beefing up its preparedness and response to disasters like floods by acquiring additional emergency equipment and receiving 10 more rescue vehicles this month.
Baloran said in addition to the rescue trucks, CDRRMO also is eyeing to improve their resources so that teams can be easily dispatched to the communities.
He said that to keep an eye on the water levels of the rivers in the city, cameras have been installed in the city’s upstream areas.
Baloran added that in the higher areas of the city, an early warning system was also established.
“From there sa atong camera in the upstream, makita kung muabot ang tubig diri sa downstream area. It will take almost two to three hours pa, so we still have enough time to prepare and implement the pre-emptive evacuation,” he said during ISpeak media forum.
He said the city is also continuously conducting desilting operations around Davao.
Baloran said that is continuously upgrading its resources to be assigned to the satellite offices.
Meanwhile, Baloran stressed that the responders have been prepared to respond at any time since the beginning of the La Niña and that they are continuously coordinating with the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) and response cluster members and maintain nonstop monitoring.
“Gina-remind nato sila always, especially kung naa’y mga weather disturbances, to check in diha sa atoang operation center aron naa ta’y mga counted members of resources and responders na ato’ng ma-deploy anytime” he said.
