Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines president Dakila “Dax’’ Cua called on all the local government units (LGus) in the country to prepare for the onset of the southwest monsoon, even if some areas are still experiencing drought at the tail-end of the El Niño phenomenon.
“Preparedness is key to averting disasters. Torrential rains induced by the monsoon are a regular phenomenon, so we also have to be ready all the time,” Cua said.
Further, Cua urged the national and local governments to immediately embark on the cleanup operations on creeks, floodways and other waterways to ease flooding during the heavy rains of long duration.
“Linisin na natin at panatilihing malinis parati ang ating mga waterway at drainage systems, lalo na sa mga urban areas. Huwag nating hayaan na maging barado ang mga ito para pagdating ng ulan ay hindi maging sanhi ng pagbaha (Let us clean and maintain the cleanliness of our waterway and drainage systems, especially in the urban areas. Let us not allow these to be clogged when the rainy season comes and be the cause of flooding),’’ Cua stressed.
He also emphasized the necessity to resettle informal settler communities along riverbanks and creeks, saying that “those residing in such communities are highly vulnerable during typhoons and heavy rains.
“The close collaboration of the national government, particularly the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, and our LGUs is crucial in safeguarding the welfare of our fellow Filipinos in informal settlements. They deserve to live in a safer, more secure environment,” he added.
According to state weather bureau PAGASA, La Niña, a cooling climate pattern, has a 60 percent chance of developing from June to August as the low-pressure areas during La Niña tend to result in heavier-than-normal rainfall in the Southeast Asian region.
The ULAP chief also renewed his call for LGUs to be aggressive in re-greening their areas to help mitigate the effects of climate change.