Ready for ‘Mawar’?

THE TROPICAL cyclone spotted outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has further strengthened into a supertyphoon.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), “Mawar” (international name of the weather disturbance) could enter PAR by Friday or Saturday and would have a local name “Betty”.

Government agencies and local government units (LGUs) should now be prepared and aim for zero casualty.

Pagasa and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) are constantly providing weather bulletins to their local offices. This has to be matched with preparedness on the ground and by concerned government agencies. Areas that may possibly be affected must be identified and with such information, LGUs that may be affected should assess the vulnerability of their communities based on geohazard maps.

Geohazard maps should be placed in public plazas. Everyone must know if they are residing in a vulnerable area. Citizens must be aware of the risks present in their geographical location, while LGUs must take the necessary intervention to protect their constituents from risks and hazards.

In preparing for typhoons and other natural hazards, LGUs should have already identified evacuation centers while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should be ready with food packs, blankets, mats, latrines and other basic needs, especially for the elderly, women and children.

Our barangays can prepare for the onslaught of typhoons without having to spend big. We have to prune tree branches, dredge esteros and canals, avoid the use of plastic bags so that these would not get stuck in waterways, segregate garbage and implement solid waste management.

Early warning systems for disasters need not be high-tech or complicated since simple ones, such as a whistle, could prove more effective. Barangays can use whistles and come up with a code or system so that people would know what to do depending on the length and frequency of each whistle blow.

Furthermore, when hazards such as typhoons are expected, barangay officials and volunteers can do mobile patrolling to immediately alert people either to stay indoors or get ready to move to safer places.

As we expect “Mawar” to enter PAR, we hope that LGUs lead all citizens in preparing for the possible consequences. Our people should not hesitate to evacuate, especially if they are living in vulnerable areas. We must bring disaster preparedness to a heightened level because our aim is resilience and zero casualty.