BAGUIO CITY -The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reiterated to council members the need to ensure that the level of preparedness for hydro meteorological hazards especially this rainy season must be anchored on worst case scenario.
Office of Civil Defense – DRRM Division chief Edgardo Ollet, who presided the RDRRMC 2nd Quarter meeting here, outlined the importance of setting the region’s level of preparedness and crafting of contingency plan based on a worst case scenario such as the occurrence of super typhoon.
Post Disaster Needs Assessment of super typhoon Lawin which hit hardly the region in 2016 was presented to demonstrate such need.
Packing a maximum wind of 225 kilometers per hour and gustiness up to 315 KPH within a 600 kilometer radius, STY Lawin which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on October 17, 2016 was the third strongest typhoon that direct affected Cordillera in a span of two years (after Typhoons Ineng and Lando in 2015).
‘We really need to intensify our level of preparedness given the presence of climate change and other hazards that impedes the development of the people and progress of communities,’ Ollet said.
Larry Esperanza of PAGASA – Baguio reported that 10 to 14 tropical cyclones may develop or enter PAR from July to December of this year.
Aside from tropical cyclones, other weather systems that may bring hydromet hazards to the region are enhanced Southwest monsoon, local thunderstorms, Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, easterlies and ridge of high pressure areas, Esperanza said.
The Department of Public Ways and Highways also presented an update on the on – going construction of regional evacuation centers in the region. DILG also gave a status report on “Operation Listo” to look into the level of preparedness of local government units, local DRRM councils and the community themselves.
By: PIA CAR
