OCD: All hands on deck amid 'Kristine' onslaught

MANILA – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and its regional offices are on high alert as Tropical Storm Kristine drenches most of Luzon and parts of the Visayas.

In a statement Wednesday, the agency said regional government entities are fully prepared to respond to the impact of the weather disturbance and to assist areas affected by the storm.

OCD regional directors and officers-in-charge shared crucial updates on their preparedness and response measures during an online briefing Tuesday afternoon.

Seven regions have been placed under "red alert" and activated Charlie Protocol, the highest level of emergency preparedness – Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Calabarzon and Mimaropa – all considered at high risk in the event of an emergency.

The majority of these regions reported several key actions undertaken as part of their emergency preparedness and response protocols.

These include conducting pre-disaster risk assessment meetings, activating response clusters, issuing preparedness directives to the members of the regional disaster risk reduction and management councils (RDRRMC) and Local DRRM Councils, prepositioning resources, and ensuring the readiness of funds, search, rescue, and retrieval teams, as well as emergency telecommunications equipment.

In addition, warnings and advisories have been disseminated, classes have been suspended, and continuous monitoring of the situation is maintained.

OCD Eastern Visayas Director Lord Byron Torrecarion emphasized the directives received from the National DRRMC chair and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. during his recent visit to Leyte.

One of the key directives was to facilitate the necessary financial resources for procuring relief items for distribution to affected communities.

In Central Visayas, Regional Director Joel Erestain reported that his office is closely coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways to mitigate flooding impacts along roadways.

Ongoing monitoring of river conditions in the region is also being conducted to address potential flood risks effectively.

In response to media inquiries, OCD spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas provided clarity on the emergency preparedness and response protocols, explaining the distinctions between Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie protocols, along with their associated critical actions.

"It's a mechanism that we follow. There are parameters depending on the exposure to risk. The higher the risk, the higher the protocol we implement," he said.

Posadas also highlighted that the Department of Social Welfare and Development is assessing the number of affected families and implementing anticipatory actions to facilitate effective planning to ensure the needs of impacted areas are adequately addressed.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla reported that all local government units (LGUs) and civil defense units are prepared for the weather disturbance.

"All units have been mobilized. All local government units have been informed. The final path is not yet determined…but no matter where it will pass, all LGUs, all civil defense units have been alerted and I think we're prepared," Remulla said.

He likewise credited former DILG secretary Benhur Abalos for his extensive work in establishing typhoon protocols, especially in flooding and landslides saying that it helped minimize casualties in the past two years.

Remulla earlier directed LGUs to convene their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs) to conduct pre-disaster risk assessments; and activate barangay DRRMCs for early warning measures and vigilant monitoring of areas, among others. (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)