Emergency Rescue Operations and Disaster Relief Management

[Christian_123]

Mag-ingat kayong mga taga visayas.

[Parchie]

Originally Posted by Christian_123

Mag-ingat kayong mga taga visayas.

Correction: eastern seaboard areas!

[Christian_123]

that works too

[Manila-X]

Editorial
Overworked, underpaid
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:00 am | Sunday, September 2nd, 2012

When the sizzling summer heat evaporates, the Pagasa weathermen are put on the hot seat for months on end. In this season of tropical storms, typhoons, low-pressure areas and intertropical convergence zones, they seem both all-powerful and trapped in a no-win situation as the public stays tuned to their every announcement. If they warn of thunderstorms that do not materialize, they are labeled overeager. If they predict sunny days and overnight downpours occur, they are called incompetent. After the memorable damage left by Tropical Storms “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” and by the recent habagat (southwest monsoon), Pagasa has never been under greater scrutiny, or wielded as much power, as now.

But last month, while the monsoon lingered and storms danced in and out of the Philippine area of responsibility, some 900 Pagasa employees pulled a surprise by holding a lunchtime protest action over money issues. Wearing black armbands, the employees called on the government to release their hazard pay and other allowances under Republic Act 8439, also known as the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other Science and Technology Personnel in Government. The allowances had been stopped since March as a result of new budgetary controls enforced by President Aquino’s administration.

“The continuing hardship is now taking its toll on Pagasa warning services,” said Philippine Weathermen Employees Association president Ramon Agustin during the protest action on Aug. 14. “Many of our personnel, especially those working in the field, are already failing to report for duty because they have no money.”

The protest action introduced to the public such weathermen as forecaster Jori Loiz, who has been with the weather bureau for 16 years and sometimes fails to make it to work because he has run short of the wherewithal to travel from the province of Bulacan to the Pagasa offices in Quezon City. That he makes a relatively piddling P12,000 a month considering the import of his work should give high government officials pause. And then there was also the tragic case of weather observer Alex San Pedro, who died of a stroke in May when he could not afford his medication for diabetes.

Aside from training light on the dark financial plight of weathermen, the protest action also pushed the President—in a surprise move—to personally meet with the Pagasa employees along with Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. At the closed-door meeting, Mr. Aquino also admonished the weathermen to carry on with their duties despite the hardships because the nation needed them in such stormy times.

Since then, the Pagasa employees have been waiting for Mr. Aquino to come through on his promise even as they continued to track “Igme” and “Julian,” only two of the approximately 20 typhoons expected to visit the Philippines this year.

On Aug. 29, they received the news they had been hoping for. The budget department has finally authorized the release of some P39.5 million in the form of Magna Carta benefits that were withheld from the weathermen. At a budget hearing for the Department of Science and Technology—which is directly in charge of Pagasa—lawmakers approved an increase in the salaries of the weathermen and the embedding of the Pagasa benefits in the yearly budget to make sure these are released.

Together with the completion of the P500-million, bleeding-edge-technology Doppler radar in Bato, Catanduanes, in May, the release of the Magna Carta funds and the planned increase in weathermen’s pay are very welcome developments for the overworked, underpaid Pagasa employees. Their ranks already depleted by colleagues who had left for greener pastures in other countries, the meteorologists, forecasters and other employees of the weather bureau play a most crucial role in Philippine affairs. The recent moves by the Aquino administration provide a welcome climate for Pagasa, whose employees, as weatherman Loiz pointed out, have always done their best to do their jobs no matter what. “What we do is really not for the higher-ups, but for ordinary people who stand to suffer if we don’t perform our duties properly,” Loiz said.

Here’s to hopeful, brighter days ahead for Pagasa.

[Christian_123]

May pagasa na ang PAGASA kay pNoy.

[Parchie]

Parang inunahan na ang DPWH ah! Ang kupad kasing kumilos! Ayan, kahit madaling masira yan, basta meron!
Community work
By Manila Standard Today | Posted on September 06, 2012 | 12:01am | 293 views

Members of the religious group Tsu Chi Foundation join residents of Barangay Banaba Extension in San Mateo, Rizal, in sand-bagging and rip-rapping the Nangka river bank to prevent floods and landslides. Photo: Manny Palmero

[Manila-X]

'Phl ahead of SEA neighbors in disaster preparedness'
By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star) Updated September 30, 2012 12:00 AM

SAINT BERNARD, Southern Leyte, Philippines – The Philippines is ahead of its Southeast Asian neighbors in disaster preparedness, according to the European Union.

Ambassador Guy Ledoux, of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, witnessed the country’s progress in disaster risk reduction program here and has commended the collaborative efforts of the local government units, non-government organizations and communities to help save lives and lessen damage in times of disaster.

Ledoux cited the country’s disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation practices.

The National Conference for Effective Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Practices was held here Friday with Ledoux as guest speaker.

According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Asia remains the worst affected continent and nine out of the top 10 countries with the highest number of disaster-related deaths were in Asia.

“It has been demonstrated in many cases that a highly effective way of reducing the need for humanitarian aid is to invest in disaster risk reduction measures, including ensuring greater preparedness of people at risk. There is now global recognition and importance of disaster risk reduction,” Ledoux said in his speech.

The conference gathered more than 100 disaster risk reduction practitioners from high-risk communities from Regions II, V, XII, CAR and Caraga targeted by the EU disaster preparedness program.

[absinthe_888]

Project NOAH is now available for Android users.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...t.noah.android

[ChesterSilva]

Yea, Disaster really disgusting. I hope no more very bad disaster coming to our country.
Pacquiao vs Marquez 4

[amigo32]

Lakas ng ulan ngayon. Expecting a power interruption again. isang oras nawalan ng power kanina.

[Manila-X]

Gov’t urged to learn from New York City in preparing for hurricane ‘Sandy’
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
1:18 pm | Wednesday, October 31st, 2012

MANILA, Philippines – The government should draw lessons from the effective disaster preparedness measures undertaken by the New York City government and emulate its mayor’s “sense of urgency and swiftness of action” when hurricane “Sandy” devastated the city, Senator Loren Legarda said on Wednesday.

“As early as October 26 in New York, Mayor Mike Bloomberg already announced that the city was taking necessary precautions. Modes of public transportation like the subway were closed shortly after, and residents were told to stay inside their homes,” Legarda said in a statement.

“By October 28, tunnels and bridges were already closed and all flights going in and out of the area were cancelled,” she pointed out.

This level of alertness, Legarda said, should also inspire other US government officials to prepare for the subsequent weather disturbances that she said would certainly occur as she expects “the worsening effects” of climate change.

The senator also cited the level of disaster preparedness of the Federal Government and State Government of New York.

“We have again witnessed nature’s wrath through Superstorm Sandy. Affected communities are coping with the devastation, which could have been worse with the lack of preparedness,” she said.

Bloomberg’s “sense of urgency and swiftness of action,” Legarda said, “should be emulated by all our public servants.”

“Working together, our meteorologists, weather scientists, national and local officials, and other leaders, can all prevent massive losses of lives and property by simply being prepared,” she added.

Legarda said the US’s experience with “Sandy” showed that while such a massive force of nature was frightening and unstoppable, the losses could be drastically reduced by combining the latest technology, the most up-to-date information, and effective and efficient public warning systems.

“Ultimately, we must take responsibility for each other, and we must use all our resources to do so,” she further said.

[Parchie]

May silbi kaya yan? Kahit anong gagawin, basta ba puro reactive ang stance, talo pa rin ang mga mamayan.

Ipagpalagay natin na magaya ng ating pamahalaan yung information dissemination pag may darating na bagyo, tatalima kaya yang mga matitigas ang ulo? Besides, yung infra pa lang, hindi natin kayang pantayan ang New York! Add to that the city leadership that they have. Meron ba tayong ganyang klaseng mga pinuno? Just my thoughts, though.

[amigo32]

be positive, kahit hindi tulad sa NY ang infra natin, ito'y tuwid na tuwid naman na daan

[Parchie]

Originally Posted by amigo32

be positive, kahit hindi tulad sa NY ang infra natin, ito'y tuwid na tuwid naman na daan

O/T: Papuntang saan ba ang daan na yon?

[anakngpasig]

meanwhile in NYC...

Originally Posted by germantower

This shows how severe the floodings are.


This is water that simply can´t flow away, that has to be pumped out.

Originally Posted by PMadFlyer

Closest available picture of the World Trade Center.
This is the lobby of the Verizon Building next door to One World Trade Center last night.

LINK to web-page
I have very little doubt that the lobby of One World Trade Center looked the same, meaning that the entire basement would be under water. This is hopefully the most extreme disaster we'll ever see occur here. No pictures of the site are available at the moment. Hopefully the return of power will allow us to see just how bad it is.
Found a photo by the PANYNJ on twitter showing a location near the site at Greenwich St. and Albany St.:

https://twitter.com/WTCProgress
Note: this is a picture apparently taken BEFORE the power failure, the water may have been higher.

Originally Posted by -Corey-

LaGuardia Airport




http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/5599623/

[Isopropyl]

And the mighty NYC failed to escape mother nature's wrath.

[Jarenz]

The Philippine Star

ERUF breaks ground in Mandaue
By Flor Z. Perolina


CEBU, Philippines - The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) broke ground for its new base yesterday at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.

The groundbreaking ceremony came following the council’s approval for the use of a half-hectare lot owned by the city government without charge for five years.

Mayor Jonas Cortes, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, is glad that ERUF is back in the city where it started.

ERUF was created during the reign of former Mandaue City Mayor Demetrio Cortes Sr., the incumbent mayor’s father, whose vision then was to create the “Best Rescue Unit in the country.”

Cortes said ERUF is located near the sea and near a helipad of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

ERUF chairman Pek Eng Lim has thanked the city for its generosity.

He said that for years now, ERUF is known for its good service during calamities.

He said ERUF has several modern vehicles and state of the art rescue equipment.

“ERUF will not depend only on its workers and existing volunteers but rather much of its strength will come from fellow citizens who are willing and able to lend a hand on the event of an emergency so that others may live,” Pek Eng Lim said.

Herminio Cortes, the operations and training director of ERUF who is also the brother of Mayor Cortes, said ERUF has 60 volunteers which includes seven firetrucks, urban users, rescue vehicles, and other equipment donated by the Harlemmermer City in Holland.

The new site in the city is ERUF’s third base in the province.

It also has a base in Lapu-Lapu City and has another one in barangay Banilad, Cebu City. (FREEMAN)

[Monchhichi]

NDRRMC on 'blue alert' for coming storm which may be felt starting Wednesday
Disaster management officials are now on blue alert for an approaching typhoon, which state weather forecasters said may pose a threat to Eastern Visayas or Northern Mindanao by the middle of next week.

PAGASA forecaster Fernando Cada on Saturday said rain from the typhoon, with international codename Bopha, may be felt in the Philippines starting Wednesday or Thursday.

"Tinutumbok niya eastern section ng Kabisayaan o northern part ng Mindanao ... Ang unang maaring maapektuhan nito Miyerkules o Huwebes, ang outer rain band sa baybayin ng Visayas o Mindanao (It poses a potential threat to Eastern Visayas or Northern Mindanao. It may start affecting parts of the country Wednesday or Thursday)," Cada said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Once the typhoon enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Sunday night and early Monday, it will be locally codenamed Pablo.

But for now, Cada said most of the country can expect relatively good weather this weekend, with rain from the inter-tropical convergence zone falling on Mindanao.

He said the ITCZ may cause localized thunderstorms over parts of Mindanao this weekend.

"Maganda pa rin maasahan natin ngayong weekend (We can expect relatively good weather this weekend)," he said.

NDRRMC on blue alert

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has been placed on blue alert since late Friday, meaning 50 percent of personnel must be at their posts at any time.

It advised all disaster management councils at the local levels to "undertake precautionary measures in their respective areas of responsibility.".

Typhoon to intensify further

The Japan Meteorological Agency's 5:40 a.m. update indicated Bopha is moving west-northwest at 20 kph, with winds of up to 75 knots (138.9 kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 105 knots (194.46 kph).

But JMA's forecast also indicated the typhoon may intensify further Saturday night from "strong" to "very strong".

PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said that as of 2 a.m., Bopha was estimated at 1,760 km east of Southern Mindanao and is forecast to move west at 20 kph.

It said Bopha embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Mindanao.

For Saturday, PAGASA said Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy skies with isolated brief rain showers or thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience fair weather.

It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and over the Eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story...ting-wednesday

[ManilaBoy45]

SUPER TYPHOON BOPHA (PABLO) UPDATE NUMBER 020
Issued: 7:00 PM PhT (10:00 GMT) Sunday 02 Dec 2012
Next Update: 7:00 AM PhT (23:00 GMT) Monday 03 Dec 2012

http://www.typhoon2000.ph/update.html

Super Typhoon Bopha (Pablo) is now entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as it strengthened to a 250-km/hr howler. Its small eye is expected to pass near to the south of Koror within the next few hours...with the northern eyewall passing over Southern Palau.

[xxxriainxxx]

Originally Posted by ManilaBoy45

SUPER TYPHOON BOPHA (PABLO) UPDATE NUMBER 020
Issued: 7:00 PM PhT (10:00 GMT) Sunday 02 Dec 2012
Next Update: 7:00 AM PhT (23:00 GMT) Monday 03 Dec 2012

http://www.typhoon2000.ph/update.html

Super Typhoon Bopha (Pablo) is now entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as it strengthened to a 250-km/hr howler. Its small eye is expected to pass near to the south of Koror within the next few hours...with the northern eyewall passing over Southern Palau.

Post regular updates here too. Thanks.