The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged the local government units (LGUs) affected by tropical storm "Marce" to convene their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs) and conduct pre-disaster risk assessments for floods, flash floods, rain-induced landslides and other hydrometeorological hazards.
In a statement on Wednesday, November 6, the DILG implored the LGUs affected by tropical storm Marce to make the appropriate preparations to minimize the possible adverse effects of the weather disturbance.
The DILG added that the LGUs should establish and strictly implement critical actions based on the Operation L!sto protocols, an advocacy program of the DILG which aims to strengthen the disaster preparedness of the localities using the whole-of-government approach.
On orders of DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic’’ Remulla, the LGUs were reminded to prepare and ensure that the evacuation centers are ready for the possible relocation purposes of the affected residents.
According to the latest report issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), typhoon Marce was monitored 600 kilometers (km) east of Baler, Aurora and is currently traveling with a speed of up to 30 km per hour towards the extreme Northern Luzon with a maximum sustained wind of 120 km per hours.
The report added that Marce is expected to make landfall on Thursday, November 7, afternoon until November 8, Friday morning on Babuyan Island and northern parts of mainland Cagayan.
Earlier, Remulla called on the LGUs nationwide to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in local planning to help achieve climate and disaster resilience.
“The DILG recognizes that mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in local planning is critical in ensuring that risks and vulnerabilities at the community level are addressed,” Remulla said.
“Proper land use planning is crucial in determining how communities develop and in reducing their vulnerability to hazards like floods, landslides, and storms,” he added.
He stressed that this was discussed during the 3rd plenary session on localization and urban and rural resilience of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2024.
“Beyond warning systems, preparedness drills, and emergency response, strategic land use planning can help achieve climate and disaster resilience,” Remulla noted.
He also shared that the DILG has been helping LGUs achieve full compliance on the preparation, updating, and strict implementation of their Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).
According to Remulla, a total of 651 or around 39 percent of cities and municipalities have updated their CLUPs, 837 or 51 percent are up for updating, and the remaining 146 or 9 percent still have no CLUPs.
Remulla also called for concrete plans amid growing issues on climate change, citing proactivity and strategy as key to long-term resilience.
“We do not have the luxury of time because climate change is here, it's here now,” Remulla noted.
“We still have a lot of ground to cover. We hope that this activity will trigger concrete actions that will strengthen local capacities and build resilient communities,” he continued.