Palace hopeful ’emergency preparedness’ trend will continue

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel put sandbags along a portion of the Roxas Blvd. Baywalk in Manila as part of the precaution against possible storm surges that maybe caused by Tropical Storm “Ruby” which is expected to pass south of Metro Manila on Monday evening (Dec. 8, 2014). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — Malacanang said on Sunday that it is hopeful that the country’s emergency preparedness shown in the recent onslaught of Typhoon Ruby will continue.

“Marami po ang tumugon doon sa panawagan ng forced evacuation at nakiisa sa panawagan ng pamahalaan. Tila nabubuo na ‘yung kultura ng emergency preparedness at sana ay lalo pang lumawak at lumalim itong paniwalang ito para sa kaligtasan nating lahat (Many heeded the call for forced evacuation and cooperated with the government. The culture of emergency preparedness seems to be growing and we hope it will spread and intensify for everybody’s safety),” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of 6 a.m. Saturday, some 62,768 families or 306,192 people were currently being served inside and outside 1,064 evacuation centers.

NDRRMC recorded 11 confirmed fatalities due to Typhoon Ruby.

“Muli po ay nagpapasalamat tayo at bumabati sa lahat ng mga komunidad, sa mga barangay, bayan, lungsod, lalawigan, at rehiyon na nagbigkis-bigkis at nagkaisa sa paghahanda doon sa nakaraang banta ng Typhoon Ruby at sana po ay manatili itong ganitong pagkakaisa at katatagan natin (Again, we want to thank and commend all the communities, our villages, towns, cities, provinces, and regions for uniting and preparing for Typhoon Ruby and we hope for continued unity and strength),” said Coloma.