Palace: Gov't ready for La Niña

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang assured the public yesterday that concerned departments and agencies as well as local government units are ready to implement contingency measures in the wake of the La Niña phenomenon.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over dzRB the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is providing relief goods to and helping evacuate the residents of Negros Occidental affected by floods.

On Friday, Valte said national and local officials were all ready to carry out disaster preparedness plans to reduce the impact of on people’s lives and properties.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) officer-in-charge and Science and Technology Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Metro Manila and some areas in the Bicol and Visayas regions will continue to experience heavy rains in the coming days.

Local officials also said were ready to evacuate people living in areas declared as “highly susceptible” to flooding and landslides by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to avoid the loss of lives.

In Bicol, the Office of Civil Defense said three persons were reported to have drowned.

Raffy Alejandro, who chairs the Bicol Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, identified the casualties as Ajlo Villanueva, 74, of Bagamanoc town in Catanduanes, who was swept away while crossing a river Monday; Isidro Reyes, 41, who was carried by strong currents while crossing a river near at the Crab Center in Barangay Planeb del Sur Wednesday; and Bernard Lequigan, whose body was found floating in the sea near the Roca Baluarte beach resort in Malilipot town on Friday.

Flooded towns

Rains spawned by La Niña could cause widespread flooding in Isabela and Cagayan provinces, officials warned.

The Cagayan River has overflowed and flooded several barangays in Ilagan, while the Alicaocao bridge in Cauayan city, the main access of forest barangay settlers, is already closed.

Dario Aquino who heads the Magat Dam forecasting office in Ramon, Isabela, said the reservoir remains at a critical level of 193 meters since two weeks ago. Aquino said they have been gradually releasing water to prevent an abrupt rise in the dam’s water level.

Officials in Barangay Cabisera 5 in Ilagan have asked residents near the Pinacanauan river to move to safer ground since its waters have weakened a large portion of the bank, causing five houses to sink last week. – With Celso Amo, Raymund Catindig, Charlie Lagasca