Task Force Mayon to Conduct Dry Run Evacuation

LEGAZPI CITY, July 15- Immediately after its reactivation, the Task Force Mayon is set to conduct massive dry run evacuation even as the alert status has remained at level 2 since Friday last week.

According to Abundio Nunez Jr., administrative officer of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 901st Infantry brigade is tasked to lead the evacuation dry run.

The 901st Infantry brigade is responsible covering the response efforts to activate its Disaster Reduction and Response Operations (DRRO) units to be ready for any eventualities relative to Mayon's watch.

Nunez said that the AFP based here will start the deployment of their personnel to the strategic areas in preparation for possible evacuation. "We have close coordination with the Task Force Mayon headed by the AFP."

He added that the APSEMO and other government agencies are currently finishing the inventory of the residents at the hazard zones and is expecting to see rise in statistics.

"The 2008 data showed some 8,129 persons from 1,785 families and farmers within the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zones (PDZ) and the 7-kilometer Extended Danger Zones (EDZ) but this data could rise due to migration and possible offspring of residents.

Nuñez explained that Task Force Mayon is a liaison group of the AFP which coordinates all mobilities and security concerns of the Mayon watch.

The task force is to provide security among the disaster officials, disaster operation centers including APSEMO and deploy personnel at the entry and exit points of the PDZs and EDZs to disengaged people from entering the areas.

Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), on the other hand, is set to holds its meeting this week to check whether the system would work as planned and which areas need the 'oil' so to speak in the case of the gears.

But the dry run will not involve actual loading of people because it is already sufficient to mobilize vehicle and the involved personnel, according to Nuñez.

He further said that they are working on identifying strategic locations for possible pick up points and provision of standby vehicles for the purpose of fast evacuation of people should alert level 3 is raised on Mayon. (PNA)