Prepare communities for disasters, local governments urged

MANILA, Philippines — Former mayor Rolando Distura of Dumangas, Iloilo, a consultant of the Department of Interior and Local Government for disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation, on Wednesday urged government agencies to focus on preparing communities for disasters.

Aside from enhancing collaborations among local government units in terms of their roles once calamities strike, Distura said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM that prevention was still more important and that residents themselves should know when to evacuate.

“Huwag nang hintayin na tumaas pa ang tubig (Let’s not wait for the floodwaters to rise),” he advised  residents of areas at risk of floods.

He said that the cleaning of drainage lines should be done before the onset of typhoons and not when one is about to hit.

LGUs should also ensure that plans to build subdivisions in flood-prone areas are not approved in the first place, Distura added.

For more of the interview, listen to Radyo Inquirer 990AM.