Preventive measures and disasters

EDITORIAL

The number of people getting killed during natural disasters like Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng last year could be prevented or lessened in Northern Luzon or elsewhere in the country if reparations are done this early by all stakeholders.

“Prevention is better than cure,” a popular adage says. In the Cordillera, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has warned the public to be alert whenever it rains because soil erosion can easily lead to devastating landslides, particularly in communities located in geological hazard zones in the region,

Regional DENR officials said last week they were working closely with the Cordillera Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and local government units in taking precautions to prevent loss of lives and properties as the rainy season sets in.

The CRDCC had reactivated its disaster units in the region. Before the arrival of the typhoon season, the DENR advised residents living in identified landslide-prone areas to implement precautionary measures on rainy days.

The DENR said many areas in the region of mountain ranges have been previously identified as geological hazard zones. Initial findings showed most of the soil and rock formations in the Cordillera were highly fractured, thus the root causes of landslides during continuous rains.

Concerned government agencies, especially local government units, were urged to ensure landslide mitigating projects such as construction of slope protection walls or “ripraps” and sufficient drainage systems are in place.

The DENR also called on residents in geo-hazard sites that if they have the means to relocate to safer areas, then they should consider leaving their dwellings.

The agency’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau office in Cordillera was about to complete the region’s geohazard map to serve as guide for people to identify whether or not their places were geologically unstable.

While there are some places in the region which were pinpointed as geologically hazardous areas, the MGB said in the meantime, safety of residents can be enhanced by constructing efficient drainage systems that allow free flow of water when it rains.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration already warned that the long dry spell will be followed by the La Niña event which is expected to bring more rains and typhoons than usual during the rainy season. Implementation of mitigation or preventive measures is needed before people die and the usual finger-pointing would be resorted to.