Puerto Princesa, Palawan – The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) is anticipating the consequences of an unprecedented heat wave and is ramping up its preparedness to address a possible surge in fires.
The statement came in the wake of a wildfire in Barangay San Rafael that destroyed at least 60 hectares of open fields on April 18.
CDRRMO head Earl Timbancaya told reporters on Monday that his office has readied early warning systems to ensure that first responders can proceed to the site before the situation becomes uncontrollable.
Additionally, he said local firefighters have been issued equipment for quenching forest fires, such as personal protective gear, specialized tools and 10-cubic meter water tankers.
“In terms of equipment for mechanical advantage, like high-angle equipment, we now have a man bucket that can extend up the fourth floor of a building fourth floor of a building. We are also planning to acquire a rescue ladder that can reach the tallest building here,” Timbancaya said.
Village personnel are also being provided with sirens and public address systems so they can sound the alarm in case a fire lights up, alerting authorities and residents alike, the city official added.
Timbancaya noted that the city government is also anticipating the heat wave’s negative impact on agriculture and people’s health.
However, he explained that the city’s Incident Command System (ICS) for extreme droughts is already in place but has not yet been activated.
The ICS harnesses employees from city hall’s various departments to work collaboratively to minimize the risks of calamities not just for the victims but also for the responders.
The CDRRMO reported that the heat wave experienced in the city from March 27 to April 22 may be the most severe in recorded history, surpassing temperatures reached during the 2016 and 2019 dry spells.
From April 17 to 22, the heat index in Palawan’s capital was never lower than 42 degrees Celsius.
The heat index is forecast to reach 44 degrees in the next two days, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. (PNA)
