'High-risk' emergency response protocols activated in 4 regions due to Aghon

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Council and the Office of Civil Defense said on Friday that the "high-risk" Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) protocol was activated over four regions due to Tropical Depression Aghon's predicted landfall over Eastern Samar.

In a press conference, OCD Spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas explained that a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) had been made, and the high-risk "Charlie" EPR protocol was raised for the emergency response organizations in:

• National Capital Region
• Cordillera Autonomous Region
• Bicol Region, and
• Eastern Visayas Region.

The Charlie or high-risk protocol includes activating emergency operations centers to red alert, recommending class and work suspension, imposing preemptive and forced evacuations, among others.

According to weather service PAGASA, Typhoon Aghon may make landfall around 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday in Eastern Samar as a tropical storm. 

Meanwhile, Bravo or moderate risk protocols were activated in:

• CALABARZON,
• Western Visayas, and
• CARAGA.

Alpha or low-risk protocols were activated in:

• Cagayan Valley,
• MIMAROPA,
• Central Visayas,
• Northern Mindanao,
• Davao Region,
• SOCCSKSARGEN, and
• Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.

The following regions were placed on "Standby:"

• Ilocos Region,
• Central Luzon, and
• Western Mindanao.

Additionally, concerned agencies were directed to hold PDRA Analyst Group Meetings to identify the needs of each region depending on their protocols.

“Ang purpose po [ng meetings] ay to capture additional data coming from our technical and warning agencies… para ang decision makers ay pwede pong makagawa ng mga tamang desisyon kung kinakailangan in terms of response,” said Posadas.

(The purpose of the meetings is to capture additional data coming from our technical and warning agencies… so that our decision-makers can make the right response decisions.)

The response clusters would be convening to determine preparedness and readiness, and to pinpoint specific needs for every office.

Camp Coordination and Camp Management teams were also activated in case of possible pre-emptive evacuations.

Concerned agencies were also preparing to manage their law and order, logistics, search and retrieval operations, education, and emergency telecommunications sectors during the possible landfall.

“We’d just like to emphasize yung kahandaan ng inyong national government sa pamumuno ng Secretary of National Defense, at yung Office of Civil Defense na nakataas na po ang alert… This is in keeping po, all hands po ito para matugunan agad kung may kinakailangan,” said Posadas.

(We’d just like to emphasize the preparedness of the national government led by the Secretary of National Defense and the Office of Civil Defense that has already raised the alert… all hands can respond immediately as needed.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News