The city governments of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu ordered an evacuation of all residents in coastal barangays ahead of the predicted entry of typhoon “Yolanda” into the country.
“Dili nata maghulat nga musaka ang tubig so dapat sila mo-evacuate (They should evacuate before the tide rises),” Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said in a meeting with disaster management officials yesterday.
Aside from ordering a suspension of classes, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza set up a command center at the City Hall that will monitor the situation in all 30 barangays including Olango Island.
In Mandaue, Cortes advised residents not to use candles and kerosene lamps to prevent fires.
The mayor ordered officials of the city’s 27 barangays to coordinate with school principals to facilitate the evacuation of residents.
Several public school buildings were declared unsafe for occupancy after the Oct. 15 earthquake.
Cortes said school principals would know which school buildings are safe to use as evacuation centers.
He called on residents to prepare flashlights, food, water and other necessities needed during typhoon. “Suspending classes in all levels will ease the concerns of the parents,” Cortes said.
Mandaue City government employees in frontline offices like the City Engineering Office, Traffic Enforcement Agency in Mandaue, Action Control Emergency Rescue Team (ACERT) and City Health Office will be on duty.
Cortes asked companies to give their workers time to prepare for the supertyphoon and offer their office spaces as evacuation centers if necessary. For now, private and public schools will be used as evacuation centers.
Radaza also asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to prepare school buildings as evacuation centers. The Lapu-Lapu City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) sent teams to deliver relief goods to Olango island.
Lapu-Lapu City’s engineering teams were also sent to Olango Island to clear fallen trees and poles from roads. Paramedic and rescue teams are also on standby, the mayor said.