Humanitarian groups distributed through digital cash transfer more than P4 million to 2,650 families in 40 barangays in Salcedo, Dolores, Lawaan, Quinapondan and Balangiga towns in Eastern Samar three days before the projected impact of Yyphoon “Odette” (international code name Rai), Oxfam Pilipinas announced on Wednesday.
The financial aid was made possible through the Building Resilient Adaptive and Disaster Ready Communities (B-READY) project, in coordination with Strengthening Harmonized Action for Disaster Risk Reduction, Preparedness and Early Recovery (SHARPER) project under which the humanitarian groups utilized an early warning system technology developed by Global Parametrics.
This developed as Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon alerted people at Odette’s path to stay vigilant and prepare for the coming weather disturbance, warning that the severe storm may reach a maximum strength of 155 kilometers per hour (km/h).
As the typhoon is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday night, Gordon said PRC is prepared to respond through its local chapters. According to the PRC Disaster Management Services, all rescue vehicles, logistic hubs, and emergency response units are ready for situations like this.
“I want to remind everyone to keep your guard up. Protect and save your families. It is best to always predict, plan, prepare, and practice. These are vital steps towards safety and disaster resilience,” Gordon said.
Pre-disaster response
The B-READY distribution initiative is jointly implemented by Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN); Sentro para sa Ikauunland ng katutubong Agham at Teknolohiya Inc. (SIKAT), and Oxfam America.
The said early warning system targets provision of support to low-income communities before the typhoon strikes.
Both projects involve nongovernment organizations, private sector groups, government, and science-based agencies, which aim to anticipate typhoons and empower vulnerable groups at risk to prepare for incoming disasters.
In a statement, Oxfam Pilipinas Country Director Maria Rosario Felizco said that by shifting from giving post-disaster cash aid to providing pre-disaster cash aid, communities can recover from disasters sooner.
“To strengthen Filipinos’ disaster resilience, we need to move from a post-disaster response mechanism, and instead anticipate disasters and support vulnerable groups such as low-income families, elderly people, single women with children, and people with disabilities,” Felizco said.
DOTr, PCG hoist alert status
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade has instructed all sub-agencies to prepare for Typhoon Odette to minimize its effect for the upcoming holidays.
“We need to be ready for this storm. Let us monitor closely and coordinate all action with all the other concerned government agencies so that those who are going home to their provinces to spend the Christmas holidays will be safe,” said Tugade.
Typhoon Odette is expected to affect many parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Already the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) has activated its airports’ weather emergency standby protocols, including necessary boarding up of glass windows and doors and the reinforcement of installations and equipment.
Caap has also started monitoring the movement of Typhoon Odette as well as conditions in various airports, assessing the possibility of suspending air traffic operations in areas expected to be affected by the tropical storm.
Likewise, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has started to comply with the advisories issued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), suspending sea voyages in areas affected by the typhoon.
For its part, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has ordered the suspension of land travel to the Visayas and Mindanao. The LTO order also ordered the suspension of land travel to Catanduanes and Masbate.
The order suspending land travel to the affected areas will remain until the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal is lifted.
Units of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), meanwhile, have started mounting efforts for possible evacuations, rescue operations and the delivery of relief amid Typhoon Odette.
District, station, and sub-station commanders in areas that will be directly affected by Odette were instructed to prepare for evacuations, rescue operations, and relief missions, in coordination with local government units.
PCG units in the Caraga and Western Visayas regions were directed to immediately activate their deployable response groups (DRGs) and quick response teams (QRTs), and inspect available search and rescue (SAR) assets and equipment as Odette enters PAR.
All PCG vessels that are “ready for sail” are tasked to take shelter as early as Wednesday. Station and sub-station commanders in the affected areas are now preparing for the issuance of appropriate maritime safety advisories to fishermen, ship crew, and other maritime stakeholders within the day.
Meanwhile, PCG units in areas that will not be directly affected by Odette are tasked to work with the PCG Auxiliary in repacking food, medical supplies, hygiene kits, and other relief packages to ensure the swift provision of humanitarian assistance to communities that will be affected by the severe tropical storm. Jonathan L. Mayuga, Lorenz S. Marasigan and Rene Acosta