LUCENA CITY — The city and town mayors cited the Quezon police force for playing a vital role in the preemptive and rescue operations before, during and after the wrath of super typhoon Rolly that crossed the southern and central portions of Quezon, triggering massive floods and destroying houses as well as other structures.
One of them is Mayor Roderick Alcala of this city who recognized and commended the significant contributions of the police.
Even before the typhoon entered the province, Quezon police director Col. Audie Madrideo had ordered all his police chiefs and other unit commanders to join and assist their respective local government units in the preparation and actual preemptive evacuation of those affected and would be affected.
To assure that his order was effectively carried out, Madrideo and his command group members conducted separate inspections.
In his report to Calabarzon police director Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao, Madrideo said 15, 172 families equivalent to 53, 554 individuals were evecuated to 783 evacuation centers provided by local government units.
Madrideo enumerated the affected city and towns as the following: Tayabas City- 33 families/ 129 individuals, Atimonan- 1080 / 4646, Buenavista- 253 / 851, Calauag- 411/ 2,055, Candelaria – 157 / 496, Dolores- 416 / 755, General Luna- 323 / 1069, Gumaca- 3,275 / 11,635, Infanta- 640 / 2284, Lopez-156 / 734, Macalelon- 11 / 37, Mulanay-2,719 / 9,586, Pagbilao-663 /2250, Panukulan- 828 / 2 572, Patnanungan- 348 / 1,011, Pitogo- 660 / 2,193, Plaridel- 107/ 362, Real- 903, / 3,082, Sampaloc- 123 / 412, San Andres- 73 /289, San Antonio- 1 / 3, San Francisco- 105 /547, San Narciso- 1,156 / 5,668 and Tiaong- 731 / 2,888.
He said one was injured in Plaridel town but no single casualty was reported so far.
Madrideo named 19 towns with no electricity: as Alabat, Agdangan, Atimonan, Buenavista, Calauag, Catanauan, Gen Luna, Guinayangan, Gumaca, Jomalig, Lopez, Padre Burgos, Pitogo, Quezon, San Andres, San Narciso, San Francisco, Tiaong, and Unisan while those island and coastal towns where sea travel were ordered cancelled are Panukulan, Patnanungan, Jomalig, Burdeos, Polillo, Real, Alabat, and Atimonan.
He said all the affected highways and main roads are now all passable to traffic.
