PDRRMC deploys search and rescue teams to Isabela’s flood-prone areas

By Merlito G. Edale, Jr.

Thursday 16th of August 2012

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela, Aug 16 (PIA) -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has deployed yesterday several search and rescue teams from the military, police, fire, red cross and from private organizations in the province to help the residence of Isabela who will be affected by tropical storm "Helen."

Helen has affected the province and its four coastal towns bringing rains and moderate winds since last Tuesday night.

Search and rescue teams were pre-positioned mostly in northern Isabela municipalities which are identified as flood-prone areas by the disaster council.

The pre-positioning of the search and rescue teams, relief goods and search and rescue equipment is already a mandatory activity of the PDRRMC before, during and after calamities to avert any eventualities that can be brought by typhoons.

The search and rescue team of the 5th Infantry Division, Philippines Army led by Colonel Loreto Magundayao, civil military operation battalion commander, are deployed in extreme northern Isabela, the Isabela Police Provincial Office (IPPO) search and rescue team led by Senior Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag are deployed in the towns of Delfin Albano and Santo Tomas, while the search and rescue teams of Cauayan City Rescue 922, red cross, fire and private search and rescue groups are on call and are stand by at the PDRRMC operation center.

The search and rescue team of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is also on stand by mode and on call in case its team is needed by the PDRRMC.

The pre-positioning of search and rescue teams, equipments and relief goods aims to ensure that all calamity-affected residents will be immediately responded to by the PDRRMC. (TCB/MGE-PIA2 Isabela)