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| Provincial Resiliency Office head Marcel Tabije in an interview. (Lei Adriano) |
By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff Reporter
LAOAG CITY—With the onset of the rainy season, rice farmers here have started plowing their fields while the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Resiliency Council (PDRRMRC) are now gearing up to ensure zero casualty during any calamity.
Marcel Tabije, head of the Provincial Resiliency Office said the province is currently leading an information dissemination drive to city and municipal disaster risk reduction management officers regarding the onset of the rainy and typhoon season.
“Aside from constantly monitoring our weather, we are also in close coordination with our community officials to monitor our flood prone areas, landslide prone areas, and storm surge risk areas in coastal municipalities,” said Mr. Tabije.
Since June 12, 2019, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said southwest monsoon is affecting the western section of Luzon.
As a result, the public is advised to take precautionary measures as the Ilocos region will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms. Flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms are also expected.
As part of PDRRMRC’s disaster prevention and mitigation, the council has already prepositioned equipment for use in times of calamity, such as ambulance, dump trucks, and rubber boats, including relief goods, food packs, and medical supplies.
The council is also visiting various parts of the province to ensure all evacuation centers and its facilities are ready and available.
On September 2018, typhoon “Ompong” heavily devastated Ilocos Norte with estimated damages of more than PHP4 billion mostly in infrastructure and agriculture.
Fortunately, the province managed to maintain zero casualty as the PDRRMC through the help of barangay health workers conducted regular monitoring on the health conditions of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women who are most vulnerable during typhoon.
Disaster management officials are also urging livestock owners to be vigilant during heavy rains and make sure they bring their animals to designated animal shelters in their respective villages.