BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – – The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) heightens preparedness measures for the Holy Week and reminds the public to ensure health and safety in their planned vacation and travel.
With the expected influx of people who are coming home and tourists on vacation trips due to the 5 – day long weekend (April 6 – 10), the CRDRRMC activated its Emergency Operations Center to Blue Alert status to ensure 24/7 monitoring, heightened preparedness and response readiness.
The CRDRRMC also reminds motorists to prioritize vehicle worthiness and road safety, as well as healthy precautions in their vacation/travel plans and to not disregard the minimum public health standards to protect themselves from COVID – 19 especially in enclosed and poorly ventilated spaces and high density gatherings.
The council also reiterates PAGASA’s public advisory on humid and warmer temperatures with the onset of the dry season and expected transition to El Niño.
CRDRRMC Chairperson and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Albert Mogol, in the recent Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment meeting for the Holy Week and summer vacation directed the Council’s Response Cluster and the different local DRRCs in the region to synchronize their alert level and strengthen inter – agency coordination and communication.
“We call upon all DRRM stakeholders in strengthening preparedness and response readiness for any untoward incident or for any high-density population gathering. We should ensure interoperability, heightened 24/7 surveillance and coordination for areas of concern to include tourism activities, religious events, fire prevention, road networks as well as safety and other prevailing local risks.
“The Cordillera Regional DRRM Council also advises our general public to follow safety protocols and advisories for a safe, secured and orderly observance of Holy Week”, Mogol stressed.
The CRDRRMC has already crafted and passed a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and guidelines for tourism – related risks and crises that the local DRRM councils can follow.
The local DRRMCs are also called on to submit regular situation reports to the EOC. Mogol assures that the CRDRRMC is ready to provide support and guidance, if deemed necessary. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
