Prepare measures to mitigate La Niña effects, DILG tells LGUs
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has advised all local government units (LGUs) to start preparing for the possible adverse effects of La Niña phenomenon, which experts said, is expected to hit the country in the coming months.
DILG Undersecretary Mario Iringan said they already issued advisory to the LGUs to prepare their respective disaster preparedness measures under Operation Listo, a program that aims to strengthen the disaster preparedness in the country.
Part of the advise for La Niña preparedness, according to Iringan, is for the LGUs to convene their respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (LDRMMCs) to prepare a La Nina Action Plan and close coordination with weather agencies and.
He added that LGus were also tasked to closely work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Mines and Geosciences Bureau for identification and public safety measures in flood and landlide-prone areas.
Iringan said they are also continuously assessing the evacuation centers that are being constructed by the LGUs to ensure that they could withstand the effects fo typhoons and other natural calamities.
Southwest monsoon, popularly known as habagat, causes rains over the western portion of the Philippines from May to September.
The state weather bureau said it will continue to closely monitor the waning El Niño and the developing La Niña and its effect on the local climate.