PILI, Camarines Sur, Dec.7 (PIA) --- More than 32, 421 families were evacuated in the province as Typhoon Ruby’s rage became imminent today. Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of this province headed by Vice Governor Fortunato Pena immediately convened yesterday as per instruction of Camarines Sur Governor Miguel “Migz” Villafuerte to declare the province under the State of Calamity.
Following the Zero Casualty directives of Villafuerte, Environment, Disaster Management and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO) Chief Lucena Bermeo already spearheaded the massive forced evacuation of residents residing near the storm surge areas, landslide and flood- prone areas.
Of the five districts in Camarines Sur, the most number of evacuated families came from the coastal towns of 4th District. This includes the sea or coast towns of Caramoan, Garchitorena, Goa, Lagonoy, Tigaon, Presentacion, Sangay, San Jose, Siruma and Tinambac.
These storm surge areas covered 123 barangays, affecting 10,067 families or 47,730 individuals. They are lodged in 541 evacuation centers all over the 4th district. Authorities have utilized barangay halls, SK building, Kalahi buildings, elementary school buildings, chapels, parishes and other strong structures, including private houses as the evacuees’ temporary shelter.
As of press time, Camarines Sur now has more or less 150,996 individuals stationed in more than 1,554 evacuation centers scattered in every municipalities within the province.
More than 64,000 food packs have also been prepositioned to be distributed in various evacuation centers in Ragay, Del Gallego, Pasacao, Libmanan, Caramoan, Garchitorena, San Jose, Lagonoy, Siruma, Buhi, Balatan, Bato, Sangay and Tigaon. Earlier, EDMERO have already distributed relief goods in the coastal towns of Siruma, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion and San Jose District Hospitals, including the towns of San Jose, Sagñay and Tigaon.
Meanwhile, the city government of Naga under the headship of Mayor John Bongat also deployed emergency rescue and evacuation personnel shifting on a daily and evening basis. As of press time, they have already evacuated 228 families, most of them living near the river banks. They have also designated more than 12 evacuation sites to cater to the needs of evacuees.
Bongat personally went around the evacuation areas ensuring that women and children, particularly pregnant, senior citizens and persons with disability are properly taken cared of.
City Events, Protocol and Public Information Office Chief Allen Reondanga has been tasked to man the Central command center located inside the City Hall compound to ensure that all emergency calls will be given immediate action.
Pili Mayor Alexis San Luis has also been making rounds in various evacuation areas to ensure the safety of more than 3,000 evacuees coming from the 26 barangays of the town. This is under the town’s “Oplan Paghahanda kan Bagyong Ruby” pre- emptive evacuation initiative. (LSMacatangay, PIAV/Camarines Sur)