The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) convened a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) meeting in anticipation of Typhoon “Pepito” which is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this Thursday evening, November 14, 2024.

 

The meeting, held at the MDRRMO conference room, was led by MDRRMO chief Mr. Rommel V. Negrete, Jr., PhD, JD, D Hum. He emphasized the guidelines outlined in Camalig MDRRM-CCAMC Advisory No. 02-2024, which called for proactive measures to prevent and mitigate potential risks associated with the typhoon.

 

The advisory, issued in response to DOST-PAGASA’s warning of a potential for landslides, lahar flows, and floods, directed a series of actions, including suspension of classes, barangay preparedness, activation of barangay contingency plans, pre-emptive evacuation, and placing of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) under Red Alert Status, among others.

 

Negrete further reiterated the functions of LGU-Camalig’s 17 response clusters. He also presented flood, landslide, and lahar hazard maps, providing crucial visual information for targeted mitigation efforts, such as infrastructure reinforcement and management of the town’s high-risk population.

 

Highlighting the local government’s “One Camalig” brand of governance, Camalig Mayor Hon. Carlos “Caloy” Irwin G. Baldo, Jr. reinforced the importance of immediate response and coordination. He instructed the Camalig Fire Station (FS), Camalig Municipal Police Station (MPS), Municipal Health Office (MHO), and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) to deploy duty officers at the Camalig Command Center (CCC) for faster response and coordination. He also emphasized the need for the MSWDO to pre-position relief goods for immediate distribution following the typhoon.

 

The meeting concluded with Negrete sharing an inventory of 38 evacuation centers/safe shelters available in Camalig.

 

“Pepito” is expected to intensify with wind speeds of 144-165 kph by Saturday, November 16, 2024, and bring rainfall of 50-100mm per hour, comparable to the severe impacts of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) “Kristine” that affected Camalig in late October.