The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRMMO) has been meeting residents along coastal communities in preparation for the monsoon waves.
“We conducted a pulong-pulong (dialogue) because the monsoon wave is coming or the hanging habagat,” CDRRMO officer in charge Alfredo D. Baloran said in an interview.
The initially conducted the dialogue in barangays 22-C, 23-C, and 76-A.
Baloran said they will fan out to Tibungco, Bunawan District next week.
“We are anticipating the monsoon waves by August, September, and October. In fact, as of now, we can note that the waves in the coastal areas are larger,” Baloran said.
Monsoon waves, according to Baloran, are characterized by larger waves due to the southwest monsoon or the hanging habagat.
The pulong-pulong aims to emphasize the importance of disaster preparedness, the possible risk of monsoon waves, and other hazards brought by weather disturbances that directly affect the communities.
“We have seen that there are informally settled families (ISF) near the coasts. Usually, the houses are built with just the sand as the foundation. Once those houses get hit with large, strong waves, the tendency is they will be destroyed,” Baloran said.
“If families are inside those homes especially during night time, they may be really put in danger,” he added.
Baloran said he personally inspected the barangays and invited the families settled near the coasts.
“We advised them that stronger waves are coming and we also told the volunteers and the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils to teach the residents that in case the strong waves will happen, they must know where to go. We have evacuation centers available for them,” he said.
“I told them we were not there to disturb them, but rather to save them from the dangers of the monsoon waves. They were very willing. I told them that once the warning signal sounds, they must immediately evacuate,” Baloran added.
