TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The city government is now aggressively working on the necessary preparations for the onslaught of the La Niña phenomenon by the later part of the year to mitigate the effects of the huge volume of rain to the city’s agriculture, infrastructure and the economy.
Mayor Darwin C. Estran֮ero said that concerned offices of the local government have been tasked to work on the clearing of the drainages in close coordination with the barangays to ensure water passage is not be blocked to prevent the occurrence of flooding incidents that might affect life and limb.
“We have to prepare for the expected huge volume of rain that in our city as a result of the projected La Niña phenomenon. Our city has to be prepared for any eventualities that may transpire because of the too much rainfall that will prevail on our city in the coming months so that damages to public and private properties will be mitigated,” Mayor Estran֮ero stressed.
The city chief executive claimed that the city’s infrastructure and agriculture sector had been impacted by the recent onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon that prevailed upon most parts of the country for quite some time that is why efforts are being done to ensure the city’s readiness in time for the La Niña phenomenon.
Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) predicted the prevalence of the weak La Niña by August and that the same will bring in more rains to most parts of the country by the last quarter of the year.
The mayor added that the city must be ready for the expected heavy rains that will visit the area because of the serious negative impact of climate change that is why necessary mitigating measures must already be put in place at the earliest possible time to lessen its impact to the local economy and communities.
According to him, local rice, corn and high value crop farmers had been affected by the prolonged drought following the record breaking heat index that struck the city at the height of the El Niño phenomenon but appropriate assistance had been extended to them by the city and the concerned government agencies that will allow them to recover from the negative effects of the dry spell to their production.
Tabuk is a major producer of rice and corn in the Cordillera being dubbed as the rice granary of Kalinga.
He pointed out that the conduct of massive clearing operations in the city’s drainages will definitely contribute in containing the floodings in low-lying communities in the city and abate potential losses in terms of production of agricultural crops which is the major source of livelihood of the majority of the populace and sustain the region’s food security.
The city chief executive rallied farmers to register with the agriculture department’s Registry System of Basic Sectors in Agriculture so that they will be able to avail of the assistance being provided by the government to those sectors who will be affected by the wrath of incidents caused by natural hazards that will prevail in the city in the future. By Dexter A. See