BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance requiring the installation of warning signages in all identified risk-prone areas in the city.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Arthur Alad-iw states there shall be warning signages installed and maintained in all identified and would-be identified risk-prone areas in all barangays and other areas in the city.
The ordinance tasked the City Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (BDRRMCs) to coordinate, together with the concerned agencies and offices, on the signage installations and updating of the identified risk-prone areas in the city.
The ordinance stipulates the warning signages shall be written in English with the corresponding Filipino translation to be designed by the CDRRMO in collaboration with other concerned agencies and offices of the local government.
Further, the CDRRMO will be required to allot in its annual budget so much funds for the sustainable implementation of the provisions of the proposed ordinance.
The ordinance notes it is a declared policy of the State to recognize and strengthen the capacities of the local governments and communities in mitigating and preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the impact of disasters as enunciated under the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.
Section 280 of Ordinance No. 18, series of 2016, otherwise known as the city’s Environment Code, mandates the development and institutionalization of early warning systems and that apart from those prescribed law, the local government shall coordinate the installation of early warning systems and devices in all identified high risk areas. Where necessary, it shall design and define area specific early warning and devices for the information of the public.
The ordinance underscores there is a need to expound and strengthen the pronouncements under the pertinent provisions of the city’s Environment Code to ensure its full and effective implementation.
Earlier, the Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-CAR) identified the areas susceptible to landslide, flood and sinking areas in the barangays and other areas of the city.
Moreover, the MGB central and regional offices completed the map of the landslide-prone areas in the city and an advisory, coupled with recommendations, were furnished by the bureau to the concerned barangays for their information and guidance.
The ordinance points out there is a need to institutionalize the putting up of warning signages in all identified landslide, flood and sinking prone areas in the city to give spirit to the previous pronouncements on safety first in dealing with man-made and natural calamities that strike any part of the country.
The ordinance was referred by the local legislative body to the concerned committee for review and recommendations.
By Dexter A. See
