The City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management (CDRRMO) is looking at installing cameras to monitor the water level when heavy rains come.
Rodrigo Bustillo, CDRRMO operations officer, told reporters yesterday that the cameras will monitor major river basins such as in Lipadas, Talomo, Matina, Bunawan, Lasang, and Davao river.
“We have to establish river cameras same with the coastal cameras that will be placed in upland area so that when it rains we can give advisory to the people,” Bustillo said.
He said the cameras will provide them with enough time to evacuate the families. He estimated that it will give them “at least two or three hours” of lead time.
“Along with the camera is also a siren if we can see if there is need,” he added.
“We are planning by 2020 it will be all in place, but it is urgent and if we can make it by this year it would be good,” he said.
The present coastal cameras cost the city around P5 million. “More or less around P20 million will be needed (for the river cameras) including a siren,” he said.
In Lipadas river, he said they are monitoring waters coming from Davao River and Bunawan. In Davao river they are monitoring waters coming from Bukidnon, Marilog District and Tamugan.
In Bunawan, they are monitoring waters from Paquibato District which is dumped in Lasang. Also they are monitoring waters from Eden and Tagurano going to Lipadas river.
An early warning system is crucial for any local government unit to save lives, while at the same time equip the barangays to conduct search and rescue.
“We have the 911, barangay volunteers ready to response and to rescue,” Bustillo said. “When emergency happens, there will be no people in the hazard zone again.”
All the barangay officials and volunteers in the city were already trained on what to do during natural disasters. Meanwhile, they are still working to further raise the level of awareness of residents so they won’t fight any attempts at evacuation.
