LAOAG CITY – Disaster response officials in various parts of Ilocos Norte have been checking flood-prone areas as the southwest monsoon, enhanced by Typhoon Carina, continues to bring moderate to intense rainfall in the western portion of Luzon.
“We have activated our emergency operations center as we continuously monitor our low-lying villages prone to flooding,” Laoag City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer Melvin Manuel said in a media interview on Tuesday.
“As of the moment, the amount of rainfall is still manageable according to PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) but in the event that you need help, just inform your village chief so that we can immediately act on it,” he added.
In an 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas identified in the official hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days.
As the red rainfall warning has been up in Ilocos, Batanes, and the Babuyan Group of Islands, all local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMC) in these areas have been ordered to prepare all critical services and facilities.
Engineer Cynthia Iglesia, senior weather specialist and chief meteorological officer of the Northern Luzon PAGASA Regional Services Division, calls on all concerned local DRRMCs to ensure that the ban on sailing, fishing, and swimming activities is imposed on areas covered by gale warnings.
Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, eastern portion of Isabela, northern portion of Apayao, northern portion of Ilocos Norte and the northern portion of Aurora, Polillo Islands, Calaguas Islands and the northern portion of Catanduanes remained under tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1, according to the state weather bureau.
As a precautionary measure, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) announced Tuesday that preemptive shutting of electricity lines is expected in the province for safety reasons.
"The public is advised to take necessary actions and emergency procedures and to prepare for essential items in case of flash floods and landslides as Ilocos Norte is now under code red warning,” it said in an advisory posted on its official Facebook page.
Prepositioning of goods in Ilocos Sur
In Ilocos Sur, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 1 signed a relief prepositioning agreement with the local government units (LGUs) of Narvacan, Tagudin, Sugpon, and San Emilio on Monday for the prepositioning of food and non-food items in case of emergency.
Under the agreement, the DSWD will preposition the relief goods at the LGUs’ storage facilities and ensure compliance with warehousing and storage standards to safeguard against contamination and safety.
DSWD will remain accountable for the regular monitoring of the goods and follow the “first-in, first-out” policy when releasing items.
It was also stated in the agreement that when the prepositioned relief food commodities are unutilized within three months before its expiration, the LGU shall submit a request for food-for-work activities related to disaster preparedness, prevention, and mitigation. This mechanism aims to maximize the use of resources and promote community involvement in disaster risk reduction efforts. (PNA)
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