QC to hold typhoon awareness seminars

The Quezon City government, in coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), will conduct a seminar workshop on typhoon awareness among barangay officials particularly those living in flood prone areas in the city.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the seminar will equip barangay officials with basic skills in rescue and relief efforts during calamities brought about by typhoons and flooding.

The city government has earlier implemented the Sagip Batis program or the massive clean-up of rivers and creeks to prevent flooding during heavy rains.

The program has reduced the floodings in the city in the past rainy seasons.

However, the city government is not letting down its guard as typhoons are expected to hit the country soon.

The city disaster coordinating council has identified 25 barangays along rivers, creeks and waterways as flood-prone areas.

These are barangays Vasra, Mariblo, Damayan, Del Monte, Masambong, Talayan, Sto. Domingo, Sta. Cruz in District 1; Payatas, Fairview, North Fairview, Novaliches proper, Baesa, Unang Sigaw, Apolinio Samson, Tandang Sora and San Bartolome in District 2; East Kamias, San Roque, Bagumbayan and E. Rodriguez in District 3; and Barangays Roxas, Obrero, Tatalon and Damayang Lagi.

The seminar slated on June 21 is part of the activities of the city government in observance of the Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week.

Earlier, Belmonte has mobilized the city’s emergency contingents to make sure that all areas were secured a month before the onset of the rainy season.

The mayor urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) waste management protection and the health and engineering departments to coordinate their efforts in ensuring the effective delivery of basic services to the city’s 2.4 million residents. – Perseus Echeminada