The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has urged the provincial government to prepare for the impacts of the La Niña phenomenon, which is expected to affect the country in the coming months.
Board Members have called on the provincial government to start preparing amid incessant rains that inundated at least four southern Palawan towns last Monday.
Board Member Rafael Ortega Jr. said the Philippine Atmospheric, Astronomical, and Geophysical Services Administration (PAGASA) has announced that La Niña has already entered the country and has begun bringing torrential rains, resulting in flooding and landslides, which have already affected agricultural areas.
He added that, according to PAGASA, the weather phenomenon will last until March. He also mentioned that easterly winds (Amihan), the shearline, and the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) will bring several typhoons and additional rains.
Last Monday, rains due to the shearline submerged several barangays in the towns of Brooke’s Point and Sofronio Española.
“Bilang paghahanda, ang mga posibleng epekto ng La Niña, nais nating alamin ang kahandaan ng Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and the at ng Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) upang maiwasan o pagaanin man lamang ang epekto sa mga pananim ng ating mga magsasaka at seguridad ng ating mga kababayang Palawenyo,” Ortega said in his privilege speech during their regular session on Tuesday.
“Nais nating imbitahin ang Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Romeo Cabungcal at PDRRMO Jerry Alili upang masusing balangkasin o pag-usapan ang detalye tungkol sa paksang ito,” he added.
Board Member Ariston Arzaga, meanwhile, said last Monday’s rains affected some 35 farming areas in Sofronio Española town. Luckily, most of the farmers had already harvested their crops, he said.
Board Member Nieves Rosento, on the other hand, suggested that Municipal Agriculture Officers and Municipal DRRMOs be summoned to a joint committee meeting of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s Committee on Agriculture and Committee on Disaster Preparedness to address the issue of the registry system for farmers and fisherfolk in their respective localities.
“Timely na siguro na mai-discuss ito sa lahat ng disaster management office at sa ating mga MAO patungkol dito sa on-going registry system ng lahat ng calamity na nada-damage. Ito rin ang nagiging basehan ng pag-identify ng mga pagbibigay ng suporta o ayuda sa mga magsasaka,” Rosento said, noting the recent financial aid given by the Office of the President.
“Kung matatandaan natin, yung probinsya natin ay nakatanggap ng almost P50 million pero maraming mga on-going na ibang naging pagtaya tungkol dito dahil maraming magsasaka ang hindi nakasama sa registry,” she said.
Board Member Maria Angela Sabando also said it’s about time Governor Victorino Dennis Socrates created a task force to focus on the coming La Niña for a well-organized and synchronized implementation of activities and programs.
