‘Ulysses’ caught PH off guard – Gordon

Sen. Richard Gordon on Thursday said the country wasn’t prepared for typhoon “Ulysses” and urged government officials to be preemptive and not reactive with their measures.

“Mukhang nagkulang tayo nang konti diyan. Dapat e malayo pa mayroon na tayong mga alarma at alam ko may alarma ang NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) pero as usual, naghihintay [lang ang tao]… o iyan nangyari ngayon,” he said in a Laging Handa briefing.

Gordon said climate change has heightened the strength of typhoons hitting the country, prompting for a more interactive and intensive government response.

“There is really climate change. Kahit na may Department of Disasters ka, ang kailangan diyan, all the mayors, all the people, all the barangays, alamin muna ninyo ano ang kalaban natin, iyan ang tinuturo ko sa disaster – predict!” said Gordon, who also heads the Philippine Red Cross.

He added that citizens also needed to act as “people with foresight.”

“If we don’t use our foresight, no government is big enough na kakayanin iyan… Kung nasa coastal area ka, tabi ka ng ilog, automatic iyan una kang mag-evacuate; huwag mo nang hintayin pa na tatawagin ka pa ng gobyerno,” he said.

Typhoon “Ulysses” killed at least two, injured eight and left four individuals in Bicol, which has yet to recover from the effects of super typhoon “Rolly.”

“Ulysses” is expected to exit the Philippines Friday morning, according to state weather bureau Pagasa. John Ezekiel J. Hirro