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CDRRMO cites importance of preemptive evacuation

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Philippines
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Govt. Philippines
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By Joey Sem G. Dalumpines

DAVAO CITY, March 21 (PIA)- The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) clarified that it is not their policy to impose a "No Rescue" policy in times of disaster.

Alfredo Baluran, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the objective of the preemptive evacuation is to realize that rescue operation is no longer needed in times of calamity since everybody is already out of the danger zone.

He said rescue operation is not conducted once every person is already taken to safer ground.

Baluran stressed that "No Rescue" is the objective of the preemptive evacuation.

“Why do we have to rescue residents when everybody in the area is already out of the danger zone?” he pointed out.

Baluran underscored that it is their basic responsibility to save lives.

He said with this principle in mind, their personnel through the Central 911 is still dutybound to respond and to save residents regardless if they heeded the warnings given or not.

Baluran observed there are residents who only move out when they see the danger by themselves .

He said these people are so hardheaded that they do not immediately follow the order to do preemptive evacuation especially if the danger is not yet felt.

Baluran said residents must follow orders immediately like preventive evacuation since the CDRRMO based its guidance on scientific data like imminent flood or landslide which might occur on danger zones in the city.

“They must listen to the disaster officials because we know everything based on scientific data analysis that a threat to life and property like flood is sure to come,” he said.

Baluran also revealed that the CDRRMO, the City Planning and Development Office, City Health Office and the City Agriculture Office are conducting a workshop designed to come up with measures to veer away the impact of the dry spell.

He said that momentarily, the city is spared from any effect of the weak El Nino phenomenon.

“We will still have rains even up to April based on the projection of the weather bureau,” he said.

Baluran said that being the hub of the economy in Mindanao, it is likely that the prices of agricultural products will rise due to high demand from other places.

He said the city needs to do better with saving and utilizing water.

Baluran said that the city has also extended assistance to Bansalan, Davao del Sur at the amount of P300,000 pesos after it experienced the ill-effects of the dry spell for a month. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)