UN speaker calls for disaster risk mitigation

CEBU, Philippines - "Always be prepared for weather disturbances as they often occur during the last quarter of the year."

This was the message yesterday of  former San Francisco town mayor Alfredo Arquillano, now a United Nations representative on climate change adaptation program, to the  barangay officials and private sector representatives in Mandaue City.

Arquillano was the guest speaker during a talk on disaster preparedness and the role of non-government organizations in community growth and enhancement.

Held in Dohera Hotel yesterday, the event was organized by Taga Mandaue Inc., in coordination with the city government and Department of Interior and Local Government.

Arquillano said for the past five years, super typhoons and extreme weather disturbances have been happening in the last quarter of the year.

In December 2009, typhoon "Ondoy" devastated Metro Manila, followed by "Juan" in November 2010 that wreaked havoc in Isabela province.

Then came "Sendong" in the same month hitting the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan before "Pablo" affected Davao Oriental and neighboring provinces.

Finally, super typhoon "Yolanda" last Nov. 8 reduced Eastern Visayas and Northern Cebu to rubble. Arquillano said the latest benchmark for a resilient infrastructure is typhoon "Yolanda."

He also pointed out that now is the right time to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction programs and Climate Change Adaptation measures in the local development plan of local government units.

Arquillano has been renowned locally and internationally for successfully implementing DRR and CCA programs in his hometown in San Francisco, Camotes Island during his stint as mayor for six terms.

The former mayor is now a member of the United Nations Steering Committee on International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, helping cities and local government units become resilient to extreme weather conditions.

While still a town chief, Arquillano focused on the education and organization aspects as a way of executing disaster readiness measures. His town is now divided into "puroks" or clusters of households within a sitio which become the frontline in implementing the programs.

Arquillano said his town was vulnerable to storm surges, and this prompted him to expose his constituents to typhoon drills and pre-emptive evacuations with "zero casualty" during disasters as the ultimate goal.

"I am encouraging public, private partnerships on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation programs. It is a good thing that there is already a system to follow," he said.

As the state weather bureau earlier forecasted that the El Niño phenomenon is expected to hit the country in June, Arquillano urged every household or establishment to put up cistern tanks or rain catchment facilities to save water.

Government units are also encouraged to construct mini-dams and impounding areas. — (FREEMAN)