18 Kalinga schools under disaster risk watch list

By Gigi Dumallig

TABUK CITY, Kalinga –The Department of Education provincial division has placed 18 out of 270 government schools in the province watch list as disaster risks during calamities.

Assistant schools division supervisor Pansy Aquino in a report a media forum said the list includes Tawang Elementary School in Balbalan, Roadside Elementary School and Lubuagan National High School in Lubuagan, Pasil National School-Batong Buhay Annex and Batong Buhay Elementary School in Pasil.

For Pinukpuk, identified schools were Aciga ES, Calbayan ES and Sucbot ES. In Tabuk the list includes Cabaruan ES, Laya West ES, Pantar Primary School, Basao Isla PS, Malin-awa ES, Banagan PS, and Bullaguiyan ES.

Only the Bangad Central School was placed in the watch list in Tinglayan.

Aquino said these schools were identified as disaster risk since these are located in flashflood and slide prone areas in the province.

The list she was prepared according to the Environment and Natural Resources Office guidelines.

In preparation for the rainy season, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council warned communities in vulnerable areas to take measures to prevent catastrophic events such as loss of life and properties.

Office of Civil Defense Provincial Head, Cristy Reyes said people in these areas should closely monitor weather advisories from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration to ensure their safety.

She said based on Pagasa, El Niño has ended and people must prepare for it especially with the start of classes and succeeding months this year.

She said the geohazard study revealed that Kalinga was one among the most landslide-prone areas in the country.

Other provinces in the list include Benguet, Mt. Province, Apayao, Ifugao, Abra, Nueva Viscaya, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Cebu and Southern Leyte.

In line with these concerns, Kalinga Gov. Floydelia Diasen issued a memorandum for all Kalinga local government units, to prepare for observance of National Disaster Consciousness Month on July with the theme “Pag Alerto, Malayo sa Peligro.”