Legarda: LGUs, Communities Should Now Be Ready for Typhoon Chedeng

AS TYPHOON CHEDENG ENTERS THE PHILIPPINE AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY, SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA REMINDED LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUS) AND COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE EXPECTED TO BE HIT BY THE STORM, THAT THEIR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS MECHANISMS SHOULD NOW BE IN PLACE. PAGASA HAS FORECASTED THE POSSIBILITY THAT CHEDENG WILL BECOME A “SUPER TYPHOON” WHICH WILL BRING STRONG WINDS AND RAINS.
“By now, LGUs and barangays should already be prepared for Typhoon Chedeng. They should be ready to implement disaster management and early warning systems in their respective areas,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.
“Nakahanda na dapat ang mga pito, batingaw pati na mga maliliit na watawat na maaring ipagaspas sa pag-aalerto.”
Legarda explained that LGUs must activate all forms of early warning systems, ensure that canals and drainage systems had been cleaned up to avoid flooding, and evacuate families living in landslide- prone, flood-prone and other vulnerable areas.
“Heavy rainfall on clogged esteros will cause flooding because the water passageway is being blocked. ”
The Senator reiterated that LGUs should now have their respective climate action plans, which include improvement of disaster risk information through risk identification or assessment, and making people more responsive to government-issued disaster warnings.
Furthermore, local governments must reduce sources of risk and exposure of the vulnerable sector by providing house upgrading and relocation options for settlers located in hazardous areas, and ensure effective disaster preparedness and recovery mechanisms by encouraging active participation of the vulnerable communities.
“Disaster preparedness is essential to minimize, if not totally prevent, loss of lives and property damages when natural hazards like typhoons strike.”
“We have to be prepared always, especially the LGUs because they are closer to the people, they are in a strategic position to deliver effective and lasting results on their respective disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation agenda,” Legarda concluded.