Various government agencies on RED Alert due to Typhoon Chedeng
Various government agencies on RED Alert due to Typhoon Chedeng

2 April 2015 – In preparation of Typhoon Chedeng, DSWD-FO I Disaster Risk Reduction Operation Unit Head Maricel Caleja together with  the FO’s  Information Officers attended the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment Core Group and Response Cluster Technical Group meeting at the Office of Civil Defense, Camp Florendo, Parian, San Fernando City, La Union.

For a more organized disaster response, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council I (RDRRMC I) Chairperson and Office of Civil Defense Regional Center I (OCDRC I) Director Melchito M. Castro called the meeting since as of 8 AM yesterday, PAGASA estimated that the peripheral of the storm will already reach the Northern part of La Union and Southern part of Ilocos Sur by late Saturday (April 4) or early morning on Sunday (April 5).

DOST Hotdog Track/Projected Path of Typhoon Chedeng
DOST Hotdog Track/Projected Path of Typhoon Chedeng

“Hindi naman ako natatakot dahil ready naman palagi ang mga agencies at response team ng NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council). Mahuhusay ang PDRRMC (Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) natin sa Region I. Ang problema lang ay ang katigasan ng ulo ng mga tao kaya nagkakaroon ng disaster,” Director Castro said.

Updates and reports of preparedness plan for Typhoon Chedeng were presented by the DSWD, DOST, DILG, DENR, Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL), and PDRRMCs of Pangasinan and La Union.

Ms. Caleja reported that as part of preparations and planning of DSWD FO I, 10,000 family food packs are ready for distribution in its main warehouse in Bauang, La Union while  28,000 family food packs are already prepositioned and distributed at the DSWD Satellite Warehouses located in Bani, Rosales, Sta. Barbara, Manaoag and POO Dagupan City in Pangasinan, POO Vigan City, Santa and Cervantes in Ilocos Sur, and POO Laoag City and Burgos in Ilocos Norte.

In addition, the Quick Action Response Teams of DSWD are already activated. Social Welfare Action Development (SWAD) Teams were already instructed by Dir. Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo to coordinate with the Provincial/City/Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to monitor situation in their respective areas.

Furthermore, NFNL Deputy Commander Capt. Albert Mogol confirmed that 6×6 trucks are ready for the utilization of DSWD in delivering family food packs to affected typhoon areas in Region I when needed. (by: Jaymante Pearl B. Apilado, Administrative Assistant III, NHTS-PR/Listahanan)