Caraga braces for ‘Auring’

By Noel B. Najarro

Butuan City, Agusan del Norte

January 8, 2017

The Caraga region has set all necessary preparations as the low pressure area (LPA) sighted east of Mindanao has developed into a tropical depression named “Auring.”

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) Operation Center has been activated on 24/7 Red Alert Status to monitor areas and coordinate appropriate action in response to the effects of 'Auring' as the regions five provinces has been placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) No. 1.

Continuous light to moderate rains had been experienced in mostly in places of the region including Butuan City and Agusan del Norte.

According to RDRRMC, the Philippine Coast Guard on Saturday has ordered the cancellation of sea travels to and from Caraga region and firsherfolks are prohibited to do sea activities.

Agusan del Norte PDRRMC reported that as of 6:00 p.m. Saturday, the Nasipit Port Passenger Terminal Building in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte has more or less 100 outbound passengers on standby as all trips are cancelled due to the tropical depression.

Agusan del Norte Operation Center is now in 24/7 status and had taken action by issuing the suspension of classes at all levels starting on Saturday until Monday (January 9). All Local Disaster Risk Reduction Monitoring Councils, IMTs and ERTs are activated and the support groups are “On Call” status. Water courses are closely monitored and technical working group meeting had been conducted.

PDRRMC Agusan del Norte is now implementing “Code Blue” or heightened alert and ready to respond due to continuous light to moderate rains. Transport vehicles are now ready for deployment while deployable emergency response team and its operation center are now in full manning compliment.

DOH Caraga has pre-positioned medicines and medical supplies, hygiene kits and jerry cans worth PHP2,419,106.70 for the five provinces of the region.

The DSWD Caraga has also pre-positioned 6,100 family food packs for the geographically hard to reach areas. Other than the family packs the regional DSWD has available non-food items amounting to PHP1,216,458.33 readied for augmentation.

'Auring' is expected to move 85 kilometers east northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur today and in the vicinity of Brgy. Masao in Butuan City by Monday afternoon. (PNA)
BNB/NOEL B. NAJARRO/SSC