ILOILO – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has confirmed that all 43 local government units (LGUs) in this province are equipped with advanced flood early warning systems, enhancing their capability to take appropriate measures, including preemptive and forced evacuations, during emergencies.
According to PDRRMO head Cornelio Salinas, these early warning systems, primarily installed at dikes and bridges, are managed by Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) personnel.
These systems utilize a color coding scheme or physical measurements in meters and centimeters marked on dikes and bridge pillars to monitor water levels during heavy rainfall.
Once the MDRRMO personnel detect critical water levels at any dike or bridge pillar, Salinas said decisions are made regarding the necessity to conduct preemptive evacuations for households in flood-prone areas.
“The bridges and dikes have corresponding color codings or measurements. If water reaches these predefined markers, it triggers the LGUs to initiate preemptive evacuation,” Salinas explained to Panay News.
In addition to the color-coded early warning systems, the municipality of Pavia, which is being straddled by two major rivers – Aganan and Tigum – has also installed a system to monitor water levels. This system is designed to alert downstream municipalities about rising water levels in these two river systems.
The provincial government under Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has distributed more than 50 rain gauges across the 43 LGUs to measure actual rainfall, reducing reliance on the general forecasts from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). These rain gauges were produced by the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U), with the provincial government allocating P800,000 for this initiative.
Training sessions have also been conducted by the PPDRMO, in collaboration with PAGASA, for focal persons of the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) from various schools within the province, aiming to enhance their skills in reading rainfall volumes through these gauges.
Salinas cited the crucial role of these rain gauges in providing immediate and accurate rainfall measurements for specific areas.
He also mentioned that the provincial government is exploring a proposal from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to invest P8 million to P10 million in a comprehensive early warning system to further improve flood monitoring in the province.
Moreover, Salinas highlighted that the 43 LGUs, including the provincial government, are well-prepared to respond to flooding, having learned from previous super typhoons. Some LGUs have even acquired water assets for search and rescue operations, such as Pavia and Lambunao.
The provincial government has also purchased 10 rubber boats and 10 flood boats for use during floods.
Salinas advises all residents in landslide and flood-prone areas to remain vigilant, especially during heavy rains, and to comply with preemptive evacuation orders to avoid any unfortunate incidents or injuries, aiming for a zero casualty rate during extreme weather conditions.
Data from the PDRRMO showed municipalities very high susceptible to flooding, landslides, and storm surges.
* flood – Oton in the 1st District; Leganes, Pavia, and Zarraga in the 2nd District; Calinog and Pototan in 3rd District; Barotac Nuevo, Dueñas, and Passi City in 4th District; and Balasan, Carles, Concepcion and Estancia in the 5th District
* landslide – Igbaras, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, and Tubungan in the 1st District; Alimodian and Leon in the 2nd District; Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Maasin in the 3rd District; San Enrique in the 4th District; and Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, and Sara in 5th District.
* storm surge – Guimbal, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Oton in the 1st District; Leganes and Zarraga in the 2nd District; Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, and Dumangas in the 4th District; and Ajuy, Batad, Carles, Estancia, and San Dionisio in the 5th District./PN
