The Negros Occidental provincial government will ask for more early warning devices and disaster response equipment from the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council, Zeaphard Caelian, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) head, said today, January 11.
They need water level gauges and rain gauges to ensure early warning against flooding, he said.
There is also a need to strengthen the network of disaster responders in the province and to upgrade their equipment, Caelian added.
Caelian admitted that during the floods in northern Negros last week rescue operations of trapped residents were hampered by the lack of equipment.
Their preemptive evacuation operations were also hampered by lack of cooperation by some residents, which made it more difficult to bring them to safety when the waters had risen to dangerous levels, he added.
He urged Negrenses, especially those with children and the elderly, to be pro-active and not to wait for forced evacuation measures.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said residents should cooperate with authorities who order preemptive evacuations for their own safety.
He cited the case of a Silay City resident who returned to his flood-hit house and died.*