OCD Bicol warns of flood, landslides, too

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol warned Bicolanos to be on guard and be ready to evacuate if necessary following continuous rains hitting the Bicol region. Claudio Yucot, OCD Bicol director and RDRRMC chairman, said that residents living along landslide and flood-prone areas must be ready to evacuate at any time Lucy Castañeda, regional spokesperson of the Department of Public Works and Highways, advised motorists to take the alternate route via Sipocot-Daet-Sta. Elena and vice versa, following the landslide that blocked traffic along the Andaya Highway in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur stranding hundreds of buses and private vehicles coming to Bicol from Manila and vice versa. Caution, however, is advised “when driving on this alternate road due to road slip in Tabugon, Sta. Elena, Camarines Norte. Be safe everyone,” she added. Meanwhile, Mayor Herbie Aguas of Sto. Domingo, Albay, called on barangay officials in landslide prone areas to be ready and enforce localized evacuation if need be to prevent untoward incident due to heavy rains in Albay province for a week now. Flooding also reported in low lying areas of Legazpi City Wednesday morning. But the flood subsided before midday, the report said.