BY IME SORNITO AND GLENDA TAYONA
ILOILO City – Local government units (LGUs) in Region 6 should monitor 1,111 barangays susceptible to flooding and landslide, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
A Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was hoisted over the region due to Tropical Depression (TD) “Lannie” by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Monday night.
According to Pagasa, “Lannie” was spotted over the Panay Gulf and was headed towards the southern portion of Panay Island.
Torrential rains and flooding were experienced in some parts of Western Visayas since Monday morning.
According to Mae Magarzo, chief geologist of MGB-6, LGUs should take precautionary measures, including pre-emptive evacuation if necessary.
Based on MGB-6 data, barangays susceptible to flooding and landslide are located in: Aklan – 217, Antique – 364, Capiz – 78, Guimaras – 42, Iloilo – 219, and Negros Occidental – 191.
According to Magarzo, heavy rains may result to the oversaturation of the ground, which may lead to a “higher probability of flood and rain-induced landslide in areas with moderate, high and very high susceptibility to such hazards”.
Vigilant monitoring in quarry/mining areas is also recommended, she added.
MGB-6 also advised concerned authorities to clear water ways; ensure dams are stable; freeboard of tailings dam can accommodate projected rainfall amount; limit or stop civil works; temporary stop underground mining operations and other earth moving activities in the mine sites.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Western Visayas is also gearing up for the possible effects of the tropical depression.
The province of Capiz reported that seven barangays in two municipalities got flooded due to heavy rains. These were Jagnaya, Poblacion, Agcagay, Caridad, Pangabuan, and Guintas in Jamindan, and Tumalalud in Mambusao.
In Iloilo province, there were also flooding in some barangays in San Enrique and Zarraga towns.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 6 reminded DRRMCs to continuously coordinate with the 24/7 RDRRMC 6 Operations Center for any incidents monitored in their areas of responsibility and submit situation reports.
According to Pagasa, areas under Signal No.1 will experience strong winds with occasional gusts. This may result to up to very light damage to structures and vegetation.
Also, moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards, thus, small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea while inexperienced mariners should avoid navigating in these sea conditions.
Meanwhile, all the PDRRMOs of the six provinces and CDRRMOs of two highly urbanized cities in the region were also beefing up preparations.
These included the issuance of advisories to local DRRMCs to raise their Alert Status to Blue to ensure 24/7 seamless coordination, immediate dissemination of warnings and advisories, and active monitoring of their respective areas of responsibility.
They have also prepositioned their response teams, vehicles, rescue equipment, and relief goods.
Meanwhile, according to PDRRMO head Jerry Bionat, the 43 LGUs in Iloilo province were placed nder blue alert status.
Under it, lead member agencies such as MDRRMO, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Municipal Health Office, Municipal Agriculture Office, and Philippine National Police are on standby.
The towns also activated their operation centers in preparation for the typhoon.
According to Bionat, the Provincial Civil Defense Operation Center has been activated to monitor the LGUs.
As of this writing, there are no monitored evacuees in the province./PN
