ILOILO City – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Western Visayas warned of possible landslides and flooding in 363 barangays.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) placed the entire region on “standby protocol” due to a Low Pressure Area (LPA) and a tropical storm that is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility either on April 11 or 12.
Citing rainfall accumulation forecast, Engineer Mae Magarzo, chief of MGB Region 6’s Geosciences Division, said 259 of these 363 “rainfall- and landslide-susceptible” barangays were in Capiz, 70 in Iloilo and 34 in Negros Occidental.
There could be repeated flooding in coastal areas and flashflood-prone areas.
Clogged waterways should be cleared, said Magarzo.
She also recommended the constant monitoring of moderate slopes and quarry/mining areas, and a temporary stop to caving activities.
MGB issued the warnings during a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting of the RDRRMC chaired by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6. Also in attendance were representatives from city and provincial DRRMCs.
According to Melissa Banias, chief of OCD-6’s Operations Section, under the “standby” emergency preparedness and response protocol (EPR), regional and local DRRM councils must continually send warnings and advisories, prepare standby lists of trained and available rapid deployment teams, prepare inventory of resources, and monitor and prepare for untoward incident escalation.
On Friday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) spotted the LPA 185 kilometers east northeast of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
The Visayas could experience moderate to heavy rain, which could trigger more floods and landslides, warned the state weather bureau.
If the LPA develops into a tropical depression, it would be the first typhoon this year and would be called “Agaton.”
On the other hand, PAGASA spotted a tropical storm with the international name “Malakas” 2,215 kilometers east of Mindanao on Friday afternoon.
“Malakas” was moving north northwest at 10 kilometers per hour (km/h). It could enter PAR either on Monday, April 11, or Tuesday, April 12.
So far, no gale warning had been issued but PAGASA-Iloilo advised the public, especially those residing near shorelines, to remain vigilant. Fisherfolks were also told to refrain from setting out to sea./PN
