Disaster bodies in Bicol on blue alert for BSKE, Undas

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol (OCD-5) will place the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) operation center under a “blue alert” status as part of the measures to ensure the safety of the public during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) and “Undas” observance next week.

In an interview on Monday, Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD-5 spokesperson, said, “Under blue alert status, the RDRRMC response agencies shall place their respective emergency operations centers in 24/7 status and provide an official list of available assets for deployment, and indicate its capabilities,” Naz said.

The blue alert will start on Oct. 27 to end on Nov. 6, during this period, all DRRMCs are directed to closely monitor and submit reports of any incidents and eventualities.

“All response agencies are expected to have contingency plans, and preparedness measures for the observance of ‘Undas’ and monitoring of BSKE,” he said.

In a statement, OCD-Bicol Regional Director Claudio Yucot encouraged the public to remain vigilant to ensure a peaceful, safe conduct of BSKE and the observance of “Undas” or All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively.

Oct. 30 was declared by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as a special non-working day to allow Filipinos to cast their ballots in the BSKE elections. (PNA)