EARLY PREPARATION MITIGATES IMPACT OF TYPHOON KRISTINE IN QUEZON

EARLY preparation by the local government units and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (DRRMOs) had lessen the impact of typhoon Kristine in the province of Quezon.

Quezon Gov. Angelina Tan earlier directed the LGUs and the DRRMOs to prepare for “Kristine.“

Quezon is among the provinces in Calabarzon region struck by “Kristine” before its landfall but suffered only minor loses based on reports gathered from the Quezon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO).

As of 12 noon Wednesday, 2,952 affected families composed of 9,967 individuals, mostly in the first district of the province, were evacuated to different evacuation centers, according to PDRRMO head Dr. Melchor Avenilla.

Avenilla said flooding incidents were reported in the towns of San Francisco, Catanauan, Tagkawayan, Mulanay, Calauag, Lopez and Gen. Luna but floods in most of these areas have already subsided.

He said power interruptions were experienced in the municipalities Catanauan, Mulanay San Andres, San Narciso, San Francisco, Unisan, Guinayangan and Alabat.

At the ports, 488 passengers, 47 rolling cargos and  vesels were stranded.

Only five houses were partially-damaged.

Prior to “Kristine’s” landfall, Tan on Monday afternoon had convened the PDRRM Council and presided a virtual meeting regarding the updates on preparations being made by all MDRRMCs in Quezon.

The lady governor also supervised the preparations of relief packs at the Quezon Provincial Operation Center while monitoring the situations and eventualities in typhoon-affected areas.

Quezon police director Col. Ruben Lacuesta made himself busy in the inspection of his police stations, especially those in the hardest-hit municipalities.

Lacuesta reported death incidents in the towns of San Andres, Mauban and Guinayangan but Avenilla clarified that those deaths are not yet declared typhoon-related.

He said a consensus by Management of the Dead and Missing Cluster will be held in a meeting to determine whether the incidents were caused by the typhoon.

The group is composed of members of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Health (DOH), the police, and the concerned MDRRMO.