LGUs cited for quick tsunami response

THE Office of Civil Defense extolled the local government units (LGUs) for their quick decision and action during a recent tsunami alert from a magnitude-7.4 Taiwan quake.

Director Edgar Posadas, spokesman for the OCD, said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon (BPN) briefing that the LGU quickly conducted preventive evacuation of residents seen to be impacted by a tsunami, adding that all the quarterly earthquake drills are paying off.

«The beautiful thing here is that we were able to quickly disseminate the tsunami warning issued in Regions 1 and 2, and quickly the government acted and conducted a massive evacuation, especially in the low-lying areas. Even beach resort operations were halted, and personnel evacuated,» Posadas said in Filipino.

«These efforts were led by the LGUs. We congratulate them because this is no longer a drill. They acted quickly, and I think we are good,» he added.

Four Filipinos were injured as the massive earthquake — the strongest in 25 years in Taiwan struck on Wednesday.

A tsunami warning was raised in the Philippines but was later revoked after hours passed with no signs of a tsunami.

Evacuation orders were issued for coastal areas in the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Isabela.