QUEZON CITY, Dec. 5 — “Secure your families first, then man the command centers.”
This was the instruction given by Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas to local officials and other first responder units in areas located along the path of Super Typhoon Ruby in order to ensure the efficiency of local governments’ response to emergency situations.
“Our first responders, including the local officials, need to secure their families first so they do not have to worry for their safety when emergency situations arise in their areas of jurisdiction,” Roxas said in a statement Thursday.
“They need to focus on their job 100 percent especially when they man the command centers,” he added.
Earlier, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered all local government units, which are expected to be affected by the typhoon to immediately convene their Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (LDRRMCs) and make the necessary preparation to cushion the impact of the typhoon.
Secretary Roxas also ordered all personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), regional offices of the DILG and LGUs in the affected areas to cancel their leaves of absence to ensure the safety of residents there.
“We need to take each typhoon entering the PAR (Philippine Area of Responsibility) seriously. Super Typhoon Ruby is said to be Yolanda-like in track and everyone should prepare for it,” Roxas said.
“Our LGUs are the first responders when disasters and calamities strike. We expect our local officials to take command in cases of emergency,” he pointed out.
Roxas explained that governors and mayors are mandated to man the command centers of Local DRRMCs, where they are expected to monitor the movement of the typhoon and ensure that disaster preparedness measures are in place.
“Mahalaga na laging nasa command centers ang ating mga gobernador at mayor para masiguro nila na ligtas sa peligro ang mga mamamayan sa kanilang komunidad,” the DILG chief said.
“Nakahanda ang lahat ng ahensya sa ilalim ng DILG, kasama ang PNP at BFP, na tulungan ang ating mga lokal na opisyales para mailikas ang mamamayan sa ligtas na lugar at mailayo sila sa panganib,” he added.(dilg.gov.ph)