Plan, prepare for disasters: Gordon

MANILA – Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman and chief executive officer, Senator Richard Gordon has urged everyone to plan and prepare for disasters.

“We have to act as people with foresight. If we don’t use our foresight, no government is big enough na kakayanin iyan (that will confront that),” Gordon said during the Laging Handa public briefing on Thursday aired over state-run PTV4.

Gordon said mayors, barangays and people must get ready for disasters.

He said people should have been evacuated before a typhoon arrives.

“Iyong property mababawi iyan, pero iyong buhay hindi na mababawi –iyon ang unang-una (Properties may be regained but not the lives lost –that should be the priority),” he added, urging them to cooperate.

Gordon said those who live in the coastal areas should be automatically evacuated early, thus they should not wait for the government to bring them to dryer grounds.

Gordon also shared disaster preparedness undertaken by PRC.

“We are always prepared volunteers. Marami tayong volunteers, sumama kayo para makatulong kayo. (we have many volunteers, join us so you could help),” he said, adding it is equipped with the necessary logistics like trucks, amphibians, and payloaders.

Gordon said the organization serves first the “most vulnerable, those who have really been affected, the poorest of the poor.”

He said the PRC is busy with rescue and relief operations in Marikina City, and in the towns of Rodriguez and San Mateo in Rizal province.

Gordon said its chapters in Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Southern Luzon are also on alert for the possible overflow of Laguna de Bay when dams start to release water.