Dumaguete City Mayor-elect Manuel Sagarbarria has called on city residents to prepare for the rains that will surely come as a result of the La Nina phenomenon. {{more}}
The warning was made following a declaration by the Pag-asa that the El Nino, or the dry spell, is over and that the La Nina, the rainy season, is about to come.
Pag-asa has already forecast that at one or two tropical storms are going to hit the country this month.
Sagarbarria said that the City has already been preparing for the rains by fixing and dredging canals and appealed to residents not to use these canals as garbage dumps.
Disaster preparedness, he said, is one of his priorities when he assumes office in July. “Dumaguete should never go through that February 7 flood again,” he said.
The February 7, 2009 flood was the worst flood ever to hit Dumaguete. Floodwaters from the Banica river swept away at least three houses from the riverbanks, killing two persons.
The City Council, in last week’s session, had passed a resolution declaring the City in “imminent danger” following a breakdown of the City’s lone bulldozer.
The City Council’s declaration would allow the City to use its calamity fund to repair the bulldozer to enable it to respond to emergency situations.
Elsewhere, preparations had also been made for possible La Nina disaster scenarios such as floods and landslides.
Last April, Gov. Emilio Macias II beefed up the capability of the Negros Oriental Search and Rescue team by adding more rubber boats. In Cebu, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council had purchased more scuba diving equipment, thermal imaging cameras, portable generators and water refillers.
Sagarbarria said he intends to meet with the City Disaster Coordinating Council in July and assess the City’s capabilities to respond to emergencies.
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