FORCED EVACUATION. Personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard help residents board a rescue vehicle as forced evacuation is conducted in Panas, a low-lying village in Candijay town, Bohol province on Thursday (Dec. 16, 2021). Governor Arthur Yap on Wednesday ordered preemptive evacuation in all low-lying barangays as Typhoon Odette approaches the Visayas provinces. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard-Bohol)
CEBU CITY – Low-lying towns in Bohol on Thursday initiated preemptive evacuation of residents as Typhoon Odette threatened the areas with flood and landslide, Governor Arthur Yap said.
In a statement, Yap identified the towns of Loboc, Bien Unido, Jagna, Garcia-Hernandez, Tubigon, Inabangga, Maribojoc, Candijay, Calape and Carlos P. Garcia where communities are in low-lying flood and landslide prone areas.
“I am reminding all mayors to stay in their posts, cancel all leaves, and instruct barangay captains to get their evacuation sites operational and stocked with food and water so they can cluster emergency operations to help affected barangays,” Yap said.
This, as the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are preparing emergency food, medicine, and cash assistance for distribution.
On Wednesday afternoon, Yap met with the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council as well as officials of the police, military, coast guard and fire protection bureau, and social workers to assess the extent of preparations in the province.
Dr. Yul Lopez, provincial health officer, said ambulance and other rescue assets all over the province are on stand-by in case of any medical-related emergencies, while medical supplies have been pre-positioned for immediate utilization.
“All 10 District Hospitals under the provincial government are ready to accept emergency referrals, through the Emergency Operations Center with the following hotlines: Globe 0917-510-1490, Smart 0949-7955-530 and Sun 0925-8300-117,” Lopez said.
Tarsier 117, Bohol Province’s Emergency Front Line Responder, also reported that search and rescue teams in its sub-stations particularly in Loon, Balilihan, Carmen, Jagna, Ubay and Talibon, are on alert status.
Yap likewise ordered road clearing equipment to be ready while local disaster risk reduction and management offices were tasked to prune trees and address possible threats to electrical connections in the province.
The governor also tasked provincial agriculturist Liza Quirog to monitor the farmlands, considering that farmers are in the middle of the planting season, and to prepare a status report of developments to address possible damages to cropping outputs.
He advised farmers and fishpond operators to harvest their fishery commodities to lessen possible damages in case of flash floods and strong winds, even as he reminded residents in coastal areas not to venture out into the open sea as waters are expected to be dangerous to all watercraft due to the typhoon.
The governor issued Executive Order No. 64 suspending classes in both public and private schools and work in all government and private offices to ensure that people are staying at home and allow schools to be used as evacuation centers for affected families. (PNA)
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