Pangasinan prepositions teams, equipment amid threat of ‘Kristine’

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan - The provincial government of Pangasinan has prepositioned teams and heavy equipment in strategic areas amid the threat of Tropical Storm Kristine. Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) operations and training head Vincent Chu, in a phone interview on Wednesday, said personnel were prepositioned in Tayug, Burgos, San Fabian, San Nicolas, and Bugallon towns, areas that are accessible per district. "If there would be a need for augmentation, they are there in the area," Chu said. The province has been on red alert since 5 p.m. Tuesday. The engineering offices have also put on standby dump trucks and heavy equipment for evacuation, rescue, or clearing operations, Chu said. He said 15 rescue teams, composed of six members from the PDRRMO, the Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police (PNP), were ready for deployment. "We have also requested augmentation from the Philippine Army who are ready in case they would be needed. And there are also standby personnel from the PNP," he said. Chu said water assets, ambulances, and other equipment were all prepared. He said they have coordinated with their local counterparts to implement forced evacuation in high-risk areas, such as coastal areas and river banks, in case of storm surge and flooding. About six individuals from Anda were evacuated on Wednesday amid the weather disturbance, he said. The province is under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 as of Wednesday and classes were suspended before the Luzon-wide suspension order. Source: Philippines News Agency