House Speaker Isabela 6th district Rep. Faustino "Bojie" Dy III has assured Filipinos that their congressmen are ready to provide them help in connection with the heavy rains and floods caused by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

According to Dy, House members representing affected constituencies are closely monitoring conditions on the ground and coordinating with local governments and concerned national agencies to help ensure that assistance reaches communities that need it most.

“Ang ating mga kongresista ang direktang nakakaalam sa sitwasyon sa kani-kanilang distrito," he said.

(Our congressmen directly know the situation in their respective districts.)

"They are closely monitoring the situation on the ground and coordinating with the appropriate agencies so that we can respond immediately to the needs of our people,” said the Speaker.

Dy stressed that while government must be prepared to respond quickly during calamities, the cooperation of the public was key to preventing casualties and loss of life.

“Para makaiwas sa sakuna, hindi natin kailangang hintayin na lumala muna ang sitwasyon bago tayo kumilos. Kung may abiso na lumikas, sumunod po tayo. Kung delikado ang pagbiyahe, manatili muna tayo sa ligtas na lugar. Ang pinakamahalaga sa ngayon ay ang kaligtasan ng bawat isa,” he said.

(To avoid disasters, we do not need to wait for the situation to worsen before acting. If there is an advisory to evacuate, we must follow. If travel is dangerous, we should stay in a safe place. The most important thing now is everyone’s safety.)

Dy noted that in Isabela, which regularly faces typhoons, flooding, and other weather disturbances, local governments have learned the importance of early preparation, close coordination among agencies, prepositioning of resources, and working closely with the public before conditions deteriorate.

“Sa Isabela, natutunan namin sa maraming taon ng pagharap sa bagyo na napakahalaga ng paghahanda. Dapat maaga ang koordinasyon, nakahanda na ang mga tao at kagamitan, at malinaw kung ano ang gagawin bago pa dumating ang matinding ulan o pagbaha,” he said.

(In Isabela, we have learned from many years of facing typhoons that preparation is very important. Coordination must be early, people and equipment must be ready, and it must be clear what to do before heavy rain or flooding arrives.)

“Prevention, preparedness, and public cooperation save lives. Ito ang mga aral na paulit-ulit naming nakita sa Isabela at sa iba pang lugar, at ito rin ang nais nating pairalin sa lahat ng ating komunidad," Dy added.

(These are lessons we have repeatedly seen in Isabela and other places, and these are what we want to uphold in all our communities.)

The House of Representatives likewise adopted precautionary measures on Monday to protect its own personnel amid the inclement weather.

In an advisory issued early Monday, House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil announced the implementation of a work-from-home arrangement in the House “in view of the heavy rainfall and flooding brought about by the Southwest Monsoon".

Garafil also announced the cancellation of Monday’s plenary session, which is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Aug. 11.