DILG launches “Operation Listo”

BALANGA CITY, Bataan- To prevent human casualties and destruction of properties during typhoons and calamities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) conducted yesterday, March 17 at the Crown Royale Hotel this City, a Provincial Convergence Action Planning dubbed as “Operation Listo,” where local government and police officials attended the whole day affair.

Under the “Operation Listo,” a checklist for early preparations is made so that local and police officials can prepare their emergency duties and appropriate actions, mobilize their men, create structures and systems, institutionalize policies and systems and build human competencies.

The DILG lists three emergency stages where the LGUs should act with dispatch during calamities- Alpha for storm warning signal number 2; Bravo for storm signal number 3 and Charlie for storm signal number 4.

Among those who were present during the action planning were Provincial Administrator Ludy Banzon, who represented Gov. Abet S. Garcia; Mayor Jesse Concepcion and Municipal Administrator of Mariveles; former Mayor Charlie Pizarro, now the General Manager of the Metro Bataan Development authority (MBDA); Pilar town Mayor Alice Pizarro; Mayor Tonypep Raymundo of Orion; Mayor Benjie Serrano and his chief of police Chief Inspector Ric Santiago of Orani; and Supt. Frederick Obar, chief of police of Balanga City.

Under Operation Listo, time frame and convening of personnel, issuing directives are important steps to accomplish in times of calamities. Newsmen noted when typhoons hit Bataan, the prompt action and preparations conducted by concerned agencies under the leadership of Gov. Garcia, contributed a lot in minimizing casualties and destruction of properties as the governor himself led the monitoring and emergency response in the province.