Gov't agencies remain vigilant despite lifting of tsunami alert

The danger of a “hazardous" tsunami from Friday’s magnitude-8.9 quake in Japan may have passed, but government agencies and non-government organizations on Saturday remained on alert to assist those who may have been affected. At 11:30 p.m. Friday, the the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lifted its tsunami alert but advised the public to be alert. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said more than 9,000 families or 50,000 people in parts of Luzon and Mindanao were preemptively evacuated Friday afternoon. But as of early Saturday, radio dzBB quoted NDRRMC head Benito Ramos as saying many of the residents had started returning to their homes at daybreak Saturday. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) lifted its ban on boats from going out to sea Saturday morning, after the tsunami threat. In its 1 a.m. update, the NDRRMC did not indicate any untoward tsunami-related incident, but noted Phivolcs still advised the public to be vigilant. “The current trend of observed wave heights suggests that the threat of a hazardous tsunami has passed. However, the public is still advised to avoid going to the beach and sailing out to the sea. Boat operators at sea should coordinate with the local port authorities to check if unusual currents have stopped for them to be able to dock safely," the NDRRMC said, citing Phivolcs’ tsunami alert cancellation. On the other hand, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said some of the families were expected to start returning to their homes once local authorities give the go signal. “(Baka) ngayong umaga sila magbabalikan," she said in an interview on dzBB radio Saturday morning. Soliman also said there was no need for stress debriefing for the evacuated families, adding that many of the residents were even sympathetic to the people in Japan who suffered from a magnitude-8.9 quake and the 10-meter-high tsunami that followed. “Based on our monitoring efforts, there is no need for stress debriefing because authorities acted preemptively. But they were more affected by what befell Japan. They were thankful that we were spared and did not experience what Japanese people went through," she said in Filipino. Over 50K people evacuated At least 9,412 families or 55,335 people in Luzon alone were preemptively evacuated Friday in anticipation of the tsunami, the NDRRMC also said in its 1 a.m. update. The NDRRMC said the evacuated families in Luzon were from:

* Ilocos Norte: 2,112 families or 10,560 people * Batanes: 150 families or 600 people * Cagayan: 4,527 families or 30,965 people * Isabela: 1,058 families or 5,385 people * Aurora: 917 families or 4,585 people * Quezon: 648 families or 3,240 people

In Mindanao, evacuation was also ordered in:

* Surigao del Norte: General Luna, San Isidro, Del Carmen, Socorro and Burgos, all in Siargao Island; Taganaan and Claver * Surigao City: residents were advised to evacuate especially island barangays * Surigao del Sur: residents in coastal villages in Cantilan, Lianga, Lanuza, Tago, and San Agustin were advised to evacuate to safer grounds * Tandag City: residents voluntarily evacuated to higher grounds, Provincial Capitol and Grandstand

“All evacuees (in Caraga region) are still at the evacuation centers while waiting for the lifting of tsunami alert," the NDRRMC said. No sea incident reported so far The PCG said no tsunami-related maritime incidents had been reported as of early Saturday. “We recorded no untoward incident since Friday. As of early Saturday, our monitoring showed no maritime incident," PCG PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said this can be due to the early dissemination of the government’s warnings against a possible tsunami. DPWH disaster response personnel The Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH) advised all District Engineering Districts to activate their respective disaster teams and coordinate with local government units and disaster management offices “to provide assistance as needed." For its part, the Philippine Information Agency mobilized regional offices along vulnerable areas to feed coastal situation reports and used Facebook to disseminate regional stories and advisories from the NDRRMC. The Philippine Red Cross formed a team to augment the national needs in the preparations for the impact of the tsunami incident. “Volunteers were mobilized and briefed on the immediate preparations to be mobilized in affected area on short notice. A contingent of volunteers (is) on standby to support the agencies when needed," the NDRRMC said. — LBG, GMA News