Albay moves to evacuate 49K families as 'Chedeng' nears

With Typhoon Chedeng (Songda) getting nearer the Bicol Region area, officials in Albay province are moving to preemptively evacuate nearly 50,000 families from potentially vulnerable areas. In a radio interview Wednesday, Albay Governor Jose Salceda said many of these families are in coastal areas that are vulnerable to rains, floods and storm surges. "Basically 49,893 families ang target namin i-evacuate for two days (We are targeting the evacuation of 49,893 families for two days)," Salceda told dzBB radio. Salceda also said they may evacuate families who may lose their homes to lahar from Mayon Volcano. Albay is one of the areas placed under Storm Signal No. 2 as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration cited a possible scenario where Chedeng was moving west. Under this scenario, Chedeng is forecast to go west to Samar and Bicol, then to Metro Manila. Salceda said they are bracing not so much for strong winds but for heavy rains. "Ang expect namin ulan ang kalaban hindi hangin. Mas maraming pinapatay ang ulan doon kami mas takot (We expect rain to be our worst enemy, not wind. Rains can potentially kill more people)," he said. Incentives Salceda, meanwhile, said families who will be evacuated will be given "incentives" such as five kilos of rice. "Pinagsakripisyo na namin ang init sa evacuation center ... naistorbo namin ang buhay nila (We have to give them some incentive for suffering from the heat in evacuation centers, and for disrupting their lives)," he said. Salceda said they have put in place a policy of communications redundancy where they have backup facilities for communications in case of a power failure that may affect cell phone networks in the area. He also said hospitals in the province are now on Code White alert. At the same time, Salceda asked for cooperation from local residents and fishermen, who he asked not to go out to sea or cross rivers, especially when rains from Chedeng come. — RSJ, GMA News