Office of Civil Defense issues alert vs. heavy rains in EV

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines  — The continuing heavy rains in Eastern Visayas has prompted the regional Office of Civil Defense to issue an advisory to all local government units to be on alert for possible recurrence of flooding.

OCD-8 director Rey Gozon advised all LGUs to be vigilant of weather conditions and to ensure that their respective disaster management councils are ready to act should disaster strike, a report of the Philippine Information Agency said yesterday.

Floods brought by continuous downpour last March 16 and 17 claimed the lives of some people and caused damage to properties in some parts of Leyte province and this city.

It will help a lot and avert possible loss of lives if LGUs would be vigilant in advising residents against the prevailing bad weather conditions, said Gozon.

Advising residents in low lying areas prone to flooding to evacuate to higher grounds will be a big help in preventing disastrous consequence of flooding, he said.

Forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the inclement weather in the region is expected to last until May. —