DILG to LGUs: Prepare for La Niña

MANILA, Philippines - As the rainy season starts, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento has called on local government units (LGUs) to be ready for disasters.

He urged all governors, mayors and department regional directors to take precautionary measures in their areas of responsibility.

“LGUs are encouraged to convene their respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils to prepare a La Niña action plan; closely coordinate with PAGASA for timely weather updates and with the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau for adequate information on the threat of flooding and rainfall-induced landslides within the respective LGU,” Sarmiento said.

He also advised families to prepare their e-Balde or Emergency Balde, which would be brought during evacuations and should contain essential items like ready-to-eat food, drinking water, medicine, first-aid and hygiene kits, clothes, flashlights and radios.

The DILG chief also directed the LGUs to regularly submit a status report on all La Niña related incidents, including planning, preparations and general assessments.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the current El Niño is already in its decaying stage and there is a possible rise of La Niña during the second half of 2016.

PAGASA particularly warned the provinces of Isabela, Quezon, Samar, Leyte, Surigao, Agusan and Bicol of the developing La Niña.

Operation Listo

Sarmiento also reminded LGUs to implement the early preparedness action plans listed in the Operation Listo manuals for hydro-meteorological hazards.

The manuals contain the checklists and minimum standards for preparedness before, during and after a disaster.

“As the manuals say, these are done during ‘peace time’ or when there is no immediate threat of a disaster. This is what Operation Listo reminds everyone: that we must be preemptive instead of reactive,” the DILG chief said.   – With Mike Frialde