Reds tell forces to help folks brace for Yolanda

By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA
Davao Today

Davao City – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in a statement called on its forces and allied groups to “collectively confront the possible disastrous impact of the strong winds, rains, floods, landslides and mudflows” of super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan).”

The CPP statement, emailed to Davao Today, ordered “revolutionary government committees down to the Barrio Revolutionary Committees, local branches of the CPP, basic units of the New People’s Army, and revolutionary mass organizations in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Negros Island, Southern Mindanao, North Eastern Mindanao, North Central Mindanao, and adjacent regions to immediately undertake efforts to prepare for the impact of typhoon Haiyan.”

The statement gave extra attention to communities living in hazardous areas, “including those at the foot of mining areas and logged over mountains”, ordering BRCs “to prepare to mobilize for organized mass evacuation, putting into place measures to collectively monitor the exact path of the typhoon in the crucial hours before impact, as well as areas of likely floods and mudflows, in order to act with dispatch in the face of any contingency.”

They also ordered “special attention to the elderly, the sick, the children, the widows and others who may not be able to sufficiently prepare for the storm” and “promptly carry out emergency rescue operations when the need arises.”

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-SA) advisory said Typhoon Yolanda is expected to make landfall on Friday 5 am.

Storm signal no. 4 was declared in ten Visayas provinces (Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte Biliran Province, extreme Northern Cebu including Bantayan Island, Capiz, Aklan, Northern Antique), where heavy winds  up to 185 kph are expected to come to these areas.

Storm signal no. 3 was declared in Ticao Island, Sorsogon, Romblon and Calamian Group of Islands; in Visayas in Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Northern Negros Occidental, Northern Negros Oriental, Bohol, Northern Cebu including Cebu City and Camotes Island; and in Mindanao in Dinagat Province and Siargao Island.

Storm signal no. 2 was set in Camiguin, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur and Agusan del Norte; in Luzaon in Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Albay, Extreme Northern Palawan and Burias islands; and in Visayas in the rest of Negros Occidental, Rest of Negros Oriental, Siquijor and the rest of Cebu.

PAGASA said provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Camiguin will experience moderate to heavy with occasional intense rains on Friday.

The advisory added that flooding is possible in low lying areas as well as landslides in mountainous areas in these areas, advising disaster risk reduction and management council (DRRMC) to monitor weather conditions.

Meanwhile, provinces of Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Norte, which were hit by Pablo last year had activated their provincial DRRMC.

Rescue units in these provinces are on standby now as they are monitoring movements of rivers in anticipation of floods.  Classes in all levels were suspended.

But the Davao City government has announced late Thursday night that “suspension of classes by private schools in any or all levels and work of employees shall be left to the discretion of school authorities and employers.” (John Rizle L. Saligumba)