The city government is urging barangay officials to report on hanging wires, clogged canals including video clips of cascading water caused by heavy downpour in their respective jurisdictions so concerned offices can act on it immediately.
City Mayor’s Office Special Services Division officer-in-charge Michelle Agbuya said the move is in line with the city’s proactive rainy season preparations and flood management program.
She said Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier issued a directive for barangay officials to immediately report dead trees or dangling branches in their areas that may cause harm to life or property especially during typhoons and heavy downpour of rain.
Agbuya also echoed the mayor’s appeal for residents and visitors to be responsible in disposing their garbage since this contributes to the clogging of canals and other tributaries that cause flooding as the unwanted result.
Earlier, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Officer III Louie Glen Lardizabal said the city is leaving no stones unturned by taking proactive measures in preparation for any possible hazards that may occur in the city now that the typhoon season has arrived.
“Our office regularly monitors weather conditions especially in cases when there are disturbances and conduct regular pre-disaster risk assessment where we assess the preparatory capabilities of DRRM council members so we will know what needs to be strengthened,” he said.
Personnel of the City Engineering and General Services Offices engage in the regular cleanup of waterways in the city’s flood-prone sites, especially at the lagoon area together with barangay officials to prevent any flooding caused by heavy rainfall, Lardizabal added.– Gaby B. Keith
