PALO, Leyte — The Eastern Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) is on Red Alert on November 29 in conjunction with the memorandum circular re the re-scheduled launching of the third Korean satellite.

 

Council Chair Rey Gozon made the pronouncement through a memorandum issued to all vice chairpersons of RDRRMC committees and chairpersos of all local disaster councils in the Region.

In his memo, Gozon directed all the disaster councils to operate on Red Alert status in their respective areas of jurisdiction on the stated date.

Gozon also reiterated and alerted the LDRRMCs on the standing pre-emptive measures on the Korean satellite launch.

On monitoring, the Philippine Nuclear Resource Institute (PNRI)will monitor and issue periodic advisories and precautionary measures to the NDRRMC and the general public. In the event of suspected radiation, the NDRRMC upon the recommendation of the nuclear institute will activate the radiological Ppan (Radplan).

On the No-Fly Zone, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Philippine Air Force will issue the policy in the flight path of the satellite launch vehicle.

On the No-Sail Zone, the MARINA, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy will issue the policy on the territorial waters likely to be affected.

On the No Fishing Zone, the Department of Interior and Local Government will issue the policy in the projected falling areas.

The local governments and local authorities were instructed to prevent their residents and fishermen from undertaking any offshore activity during the prescribed time frame which is between 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. of November 29.

Moreover, Gozon underscored that in the event that any of the debris of the said satellite falls in any area of the Region, only the personnel of the PNRI are authorized to retrieve the debris. The local police will safeguard the debris inland or the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy, at sea.

The local DRRMC must report immediately to RDRRMC any presence of fallen debris from the satellite, in their respective areas, Gozon said.

“Monitoring and reporting to RDRRMC Operation Center / Office of Civil Defense of any untoward incident or emergency in your area of responsibility is a must,” Gozon bade the local disaster councils.

The regions of Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga are to be “no-fly, no-sail” zones as a precautionary measure when South Korea conducts a satellite launch. The area covered includes the entire Bicol region, Samar and Leyte in the Eastern Visayas, and Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Siargao and Dinagat islands in the Caraga region.

The government is making sure that it is prepared for the eventuality that the vehicle falls as one whole, of debris from the launch on land or sea, or burning, the ashes from which would be dangerous, according to NDRRMC. (PIA 8)