Zero casualty target in a disaster is achievable—OCD

By Venus May H. Sarmiento

DAGUPAN CITY, Jun 20  (PIA) –  A zero casualty target in any disaster is achievable in Region I, according to the Office of Civil Defense.

 But this of course can be attained if and when all local government units cooperate and  the public would give in to policies already in-placed, said Regional Director Melchito Castro of the OCD in the Ilocos.

“We always aim for zero casualty target. Kung susundin lang ng mga kababayan natin ang mga polisiya, makakamtan natin yan,” Castro said during the KBP forum held at the Philippine Information Agency office on Thursday.

It is achievable, he said, as they have done it in Region 2 where he was then assigned at the height of  super typhoon ‘Pepeng’ years ago.  Region 2 then earned accolades for zero casualty feat despite the gargantuan devastation brought by the storm, he said.  

“Kung kaya ng Region 2, kaya din ng Region 1,” (If Region 2 made it, Region I can also achieve it), he added.

Castro made the statement  in light of  a  brewing low pressure area in the Visayas which has brought occasional rain showers to Pangasinan and Region I.

He said OCD is paying extra attention to the province of Pangasinan as it is the most prone and most  affected by flooding among the four provinces in the region.

Earlier, the Philippine Coast Guard has issued a gale warning  in the Region. Thus small sea vessels are not allowed to venture out into the sea, he said.

When asked what the government would do with the three boats in Bolinao town which has set out to sea despite the warning, Castro said he is saddened that no law has been passed  to stop fishermen from venturing out into the sea despite a gale warning.

“It is sad but we cannot blame the fishermen because fishing is their only means of livelihood which is why we urge the local government  units to help provide alternative sources of income for the residents in their  respective areas,” he said.

The Office of Civil Defense, as stated in Republic Act 10121 or the Disaster Management  Act of 2012, is designated as the executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.  It thus serves as the coordinator among all member agencies during disasters. (PIA1-Pangasinan)

Pangasinan leaders declare Chan as persona non grata

Lingayen- – -Pangasinan leaders unanimously urged embattled PNP Provincial Director Marlou C. Chan to step down voluntarily as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan declared him persona non grata last June 10. Authored by SP Member Von Mark Mendoza, Provincial Resolution No. 277-2013 formally declared Chan as persona non grata as his appointment as provincial director is in contravention of the PNP laws and the Omnibus Election Code. Despite the majority plea for Chan to step down, he still clings to his post with no apparent intention to step down. It can be recalled that prior to the declaration of persona non grata, a resolution which was authored by BM Alfonso Bince, Jr., was approved. Said resolution (Provincial Resolution No. 243-2013) which was passed on June 3 was entitled, “Expressing the Sense of Concurrence and Support to the Complaint filed by Honorable Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. against PSSupt. Marlou C. Chan, docketed as Civil Case No. 19270 and Urging the Latter to Step Down as Provincial Director of the PNP Pangasinan Police Provincial Office.” BM Mendoza said that unlike past provincial directors, Chan did not give due courtesy to the provincial board by presenting himself and his plans on peace and order. Sixth district board member Alfonso Bince, Jr., on the other hand, said that what happened is the result of Chan’s lack of action.  ”It’s his (Chan’s) own fault that we have to resort to that as early as December and there was already this move for him to step down and we requested the PNP to replace him but nothing happened,” Bince noted. Bince suggested that if Chan continues to stay as provincial commander, the entire provincial officialdom will call on President Aquino via a signed manifesto to look into the matter. Another step,  the senior board member revealed,  is to stage a rally in the Provincial Capitol to press for his ouster. “We have gone too far in asking him to really consider his stubborn position. I think more important here is not the governor in person but the welfare of the people of Pangasinan in so far as peace and order situation is concerned. Imagine the governor (the chairman of the Provincial Peace and Order Council) and the PNP director are not in talking terms?” Bince lamented. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino) - See more at: http://pangalatalk.com/pangasinan-leaders-declare-chan-as-persona-non-grata/#sthash.mJ1OdQfy.dpuf

SP Urges Chan to Step Down as PNP Provincial Chief

Lingayen --- The provincial board led by Acting Vice Governor Jeremy Agerico Rosario has urged Police Senior Superintendent (PSSupt) Marlou Chan “to voluntarily step down as Police Provincial Director of Pangasinan.”

          In asking Chan to relinquish his post, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in regular session passed SP Resolution No. 1856-2013 on June 3 in support of a complaint filed by Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. before the Regional Trial Court (RTC), here.

          The complaint docketed as civil case no. 19270 sought the nullification of Chan’s designation as provincial police director.

The first hearing of the civil case handled by Acting Judge Caridad Villegas Galvez of Regional Trial Court Branch 69 was reset to June 6, Thursday, after Chan asked the court for representations from the office of the Solicitor General to attend the trial.

          The complaint stated that Chan’s designation violated relevant laws and implementing rules of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Police Commission and the Commission on Elections (ComElec).

Earlier, local leaders accused Chan of inefficiency and partisanship in support of local candidates of the Liberal Party during the recent May 13 elections.

          Author of said resolution, 6^th District Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., said, “the overwhelming reelection of Gov. Espino who won over his opponent with more than 500,000 margin of votes is translated to Vox Populi Vox Dei (the voice of the people is the voice of God).”

          Bince added: “It is likewise the sense of SP that PSSupt. Chan must heed and respect this mandate and now peacefully and voluntarily step down as provincial director.”

          Saying that PSSupt. Chan must exercise “a bit of delicadeza,” the board member said “the voluntary step down of Chan will maintain peace and harmony between the chief executive of the province and the PNP provincial office”.

          Bince, who has served the provincial board for more than 25 years and worked with 7 Governors, manifested that, “never in the history of the provincial government that there is an irreconcilable conflict between the provincial governor and the chief of provincial police.”

He recalled that even during the martial law administration of Pres. Marcos, police and civilian authorities exercised mutual cooperation and support “in other words, their relationship was then cordial and peaceful unlike today,” Bince said.

To end the agony and animosity, he said that urging Chan to step down voluntarily is a diplomatic way of expressing courtesy while waiting for the result of the complaint.

Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued said the camp of Gov. Espino has “full trust and confidence that the case will be resolved by the court in a most judicious manner.” (PIO/Mark Gerry Naval Oblanca)