Quezon City, Philippines – With places in the country submerged in floods and many people on the roofs of their houses waiting for rescue, Asec. Casiano Monilla, Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Operations somehow said that the country was not caught flat-footed or taken by surprise by Typhoon Ulysses.
During the press briefing this morning of November 12, Monilla reiterated that even during Typhoon Quinta, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) already told them about a low pressure area being formed which has the possibility to turn into a tropical depression.
From then, he said, they had been discussing it, and the regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management called for pre-disaster risk assessment in their areas.
He added that they also notified the regions in the country, especially those that would be hit by Typhoon Ulysses and informed the local government units to prepare for the typhoon.
“So hindi po ano ito, hindi po tayo caught flat-footed,” he said.
“Wag kang magtiwala sa nararamdaman mo,”
Monilla also shared that while the country has prepared for the typhoon, there is still that attitude of the people wherein they tend to question the typhoon signal set by PAGASA in their area.
“Although ang kwan [isang factor] nga talaga diyan is the reaction ... ang reaction ng karamihan ... kung ano ang nararamdaman at the present time, diba yun ang usually ang kanilang pinapaniwalaan,” he said.
He added that this November 11, he received a call from an upper class asking why PAGASA said that the National Capitol Region is already under typhoon signal no. 3 when the typhoon is not yet that strong.
“Sabi ko sir wag kang magtiwala sa nararamdaman mo because when PAGASA says na yan ay typhoon signal no 3, it is coming,”
“It doesn’t mean na nandiyan na kaagad ... learned lesson natin ‘yon with typhoon Ondoy na kumbaga dumating na yong bagyo, doon natin nalaman na malakas yung bagyo. So hindi natin initernalize yung sinasabi sa atin ng PAGASA,” he added.
Revisit the Compliance of LGU
Asec. Monilla further said that the DILG issued a Memorandum to warn the LGUs of the Operation list containing what they should do as a local government, “pag sinabi na nila yung area mo is going to be red ... may mga list of preparatory actions ka ng dapat ginagawa.”
He added that they will revisit the compliance of the Local Government Units regarding the matter.
“I guess, siguro we need to revisit, tignan natin ano yong mga kailangan talaga na mga decision points na hindi pa nagagawa as to be able to prevent any occurrences na kagaya nito na naman na another emergency na kailangan natin ... umabot tayo sa ganitong sitwasyon wherein we are into saving lives,” he said.
When asked what could have been wrong, why many people are calling for rescue, especially since he said the NDRRMC wasn’t caught flat-footed, Monilla answered “I don’t want to make a guess. Sabi ko nga kanina we will revisit that after we have saved lives.”
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