Disaster responders of the city government continue to clear and haul fallen trees amidst the typhoon and monsoon season.
Tree cutters from the City Environment and Parks Management Office, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Baguio, the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) of the City Mayor’s Office as well as affected barangays and the Baguio Water District continue to help the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in attending to fallen trees and clearing out branches due to Typhoon Egay and now with the monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon Falcon.
A total of 200 fallen and leaning trees have been attended as of Aug. 4.
Cepmo Assistant Department Head Engr. Marivic Empizo said they need the assistance of more tree cutters from the BCPO, BFP and the POSD to quickly address the list of fallen and leaning trees in the barangays.
“Reports (of fallen and leaning trees) are still coming. Please bear with our speed, it takes hours to safely cut and clear per tree,” Empizo said.
Efforts were concentrated on public roads and parks during the onslaught of the typhoon, particularly those affecting electric utility lines and those assessed to be posing danger to life and property.
During the height of Typhoon Egay, Cepmo issued a memorandum authorizing punong barangays to cut down live and dead trees posing immediate danger to the public and expedite reporting progress. The authority was valid from July 27 to July 31 pursuant to the emergency power of the city mayor under the Local Government Code to speed the recovery of the city from the calamity.
The memorandum, however, mandates the expedited process for reporting and removing hazardous trees is conducted diligently and in strict compliance with safety guidelines and environmental regulations.
Emergency reporting may be called in through direct dial to 911 Baguio emergency hotline. – Jessa Mardy P. Samidan
