City on ‘Blue Alert’ from April 11 to 18 in prepAration for Holy Week, TD ‘Agaton’ and TS ‘Malakas’

Mayor Benjamin Magalong, chair of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, has issued, 11 April, memorandum no. 79, series of 2022, on the city’s pro-active and emergency preparedness and response measures for Holy Week 2022 and the possible effects of tropical depression ‘Agaton’ and tropical storm ‘Malakas’ (international name).

It states that the CDRRM Office-Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be on Blue Alert from April 11 to 18, 2022 to provide timely, accurate and appropriate coordination.

The EOC will be linked with the Tactical Operations Center of Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), Baguio City Fire Station, Baguio City Emergency Medical Services (BCEMS), Philippine Red Cross-Baguio, Office of Civil Defense-CAR, AFP (TOG1,21st AFGR, 14 RCDG) and civic action groups.

The memo mandates all barangay DRRM committees, especially those barangays that are expecting tourists influx within their areas of responsibility (AOR) to activate their respective EOCs, monitor their respective AORs  and provide emergency response.

It also mandates the City Engineers Office, City Environment and Parks Management Office, City Health Services Office (CHSO) and other city department offices engaged in disaster and emergency response to provide standby quick response teams.

The BCEMS, PRC-Baguio, Bureau of Fire Protection-Baguio, BCPO will be on alert to provide efficient and effective emergency response while the CHSO will activate all district health centers with complete provision of necessary resources, essential medicines; personal protective equipment (PPEs) and appropriate number of personnel, communication and transportation services.

The memo activates the AFP Reserve Units (21st AFGR and 14 RCDG), BB-PICAG, 911 on Call and other civic communications and rescue groups to provide quick response teams to augment the CDRRM Office. – Gaby B. Keith