Dubbed: “Operation Listo Disaster Preparedness Manual,” it aims to beef up capabilities of LGUs to prevent loss of lives and severe loss of properties during calamities specifically typhoons.
Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda attended the launching presided by DILG Regional Director Florida Dijan with DILG Provincial Director Myrvi Apostol-Fabia, and DILG Angeles City Director Belina Herman.
Also present were Philippine National Police provincial director Senior Supt. Rodolfo Recomono Jr., Bureau of Fire Protection Fire Marshall Chief Insp. Marilyn Buslig as well as mayors of various municipalities.
Dijan said “the manual assists LGUs in formulating plans, allowing them to know if they are ready, and what they need to do to meet the minimum levels of readiness.”
She said “with the advent of climate change, we do not want to miss again our disaster preparedness efforts, just like what happened to Yolanda in 2013.”
For her part, Pampanga Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Angelina Blanco said “while we are already armed with information on lessons learned from Typhoon Maring and Santi in 2013 and Glenda and Mario in 2014, these calamities left the province with thousands of damaged properties and lost lives. We do not want this to happen again, ever.”
Operation Listo contains three critical actions for preparedness: Alpha (Yellow), Bravo (Orange), and Charlie (Red).
Alpha actions are done by LGUs inside the cone but are farthest from the direct typhoon track.
Bravo presumes Alpha actions have been done coupled with additional acts that are essential for LGUs near the vicinity of the direct typhoon path.
Charlie assumes that Alpha and Bravo actions have already been done and additional acts must be done to address the severe threat of the typhoon of the LGUs in its direct path.
Accompanying the manual are checklists on Minimum Critical Preparations for Mayors; Early Preparations for Mayors; and those meant for municipal local government operations officers, chiefs of police, and fire marshalls.