Fayette
C. Riñen
CEBU,
July 15 (PIA) -- Safety and security of delegates will be the top priority in
case of emergencies as the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (RDRRMC-7) is finalizing its Integrated Emergency Preparedness and Response
Plan with the nearing countdown of APEC meetings in Cebu.
RDRRMC-7 Chair and regional director of the Office of Civil
Defense (OCD-7) Olivia Luces said the plan details the resources available in
case of long and sudden onset of incidents including typhoons, earthquakes and
fire and the succeeding actions to be taken.
“There are 11 staging areas for emergency response equipped with
appropriate personnel to respond to health, fire and security concerns,” said
Luces during the recent forum of the Association of Government Information
Officers (AGIO-7) that tackled the preparations for the APEC event in Cebu.
Luces said they are continually doing training for emergency
responders mostly comprised of military, police and fire personnel to ensure zero
gaps in emergency response.
“Our priority is to ensure that our visitors are safe and
protected” when they come here during the APEC meetings, said Luces adding that
thousands of delegates from various countries will be in Cebu to participate in
any of the five scheduled meetings. The number does not include the spouses or
other accompanying members of the delegates, she said.
According to Luces, government doctors will be on standby
round-the-clock and an ambulance set nearby in the identified hotel venues in
case of health emergencies.
A joint operations center will be set up which will be manned by
both the RDRRMC-7 and its national counterpart.
The RDRRMC-7 chair said among the resources she lacks is a long
ladder in case of blaze and an ambulance that fits the APEC criteria and not
just solely for transport.
Luces said the Integrated Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan
will be presented on July 17 and 18. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)