A mayor from Cebu Province garnered attention for being the only local chief executive to refrain from embarking on an international trip to the United Kingdom ahead of a tropical cyclone’s passage.
Reports said that Borbon Mayor Nico Dotillos of Cebu was the only local government official who canceled his trip to London from November 1 to 7 to prepare for the threat of tropical cyclones.
On November 8, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla ordered local officials to refrain from leaving the country from November 9 to 15 to spearhead disaster preparedness and relief efforts on the ground.
This was in anticipation of the threat posed by then-Super Typhoon Uwan (now a severe tropical storm).
Seven mayors from Cebu province and one board member, meanwhile, were found to be in the UK during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino, the weather disturbance being monitored before “Uwan.”
“Tino” entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday, November 2 and exited on Thursday, November 6.
The typhoon brought widespread flooding, landslides, and severe soil erosion, as well as damaged infrastructures like houses and establishments, and caused prolonged power outages.
Cebu province was among those that were the hardest hit, reporting 150 casualties. In total, “Tino” left at least 232 people dead.
Meanwhile, Cebu officials who traveled during “Tino’s” onslaught included Catmon Mayor Avis Monleon, Compostela Mayor Felijur Quiño, Liloan Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco, Pilar Mayor Manuel Santiago, Poro Mayor Edgar Rama, San Francisco Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr., Tudela Mayor Greman Solante and board member Andrei Duterte.
Only Dotillos cancelled his trip in anticipation of “Tino.”
The typhoon made its second landfall in Borbon, Cebu, after making its first landfall in Silago, Southern Leyte, at midnight on November 4.
By the evening of the same day, Dotillos posted an update to his constituents, stating that they had conducted “road clearing operations” after trees and poles were toppled by “Tino.”
By November 5, the mayor reported that his town had “zero casualties or seriously injured” due to “Tino.”
Dotillos’ name earned buzz among some Filipinos who took note of his trip cancellation to spearhead and help in his town’s disaster-related efforts following the effects of the typhoon.
“Nico Dotillos is a neophyte mayor. Yet, he had foresight. He was supposed to be part of the fifth district mayors who went to London for a vacation, but he opted to cancel. Because days prior to their departure, news of the upcoming typhoon was already loud and scary: It will pass through northern Cebu,” a Facebook user wrote.
“Tino, indeed, made a landfall in Borbon, the town where Dotillos is the mayor. He was at the forefront of the preparation. He supervised the evacuation of residents. After Tino hit, he was seen manning relief and rescue efforts,” the user added.
“He chose to stay and be with his constituents. He signed up for it last election. Now, he delivers what is expected of him,” the user continued.
The Local Government Code of the Philippines mandates that governors, mayors and members of local councils lead disaster aid and relief efforts in their respective jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act notes that local officials are liable to organize and supervise their local disaster risk reduction and management offices during calamities.
The Palace on Monday, November 10, said it was looking into the reports of local officials who had traveled abroad amid the onslaught of “Tino.”
