RESIDENTS TOLD TO PREPARE FOR RAINY SEASON
OLONGAPO – Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. has reminded Olongapo residents to start preparing for the rainy season now, stressing the importance of putting in place whatever is needed to contain the possible effects of typhoons and other natural calamities.
“Habang matindi ang sikat ng araw, ayusin natin ang mga bubong at parte ng bahay na maaaring masira sa panahon ng bagyo at itaas ang mga gamit at papeles na importante upang hindi abutin ng baha,” Mayor Gordon said in his weekly program broadcast on local radio and television.
Gordon said the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) is also set to conduct a training on water rescue operations for barangay emergency response teams in the city.
It can be recalled that last month, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Central Luzon has identified 987 flood-prone barangays with 255,159 families in Region 3. Pampanga topped the list with 231 flood-prone barangays in 15 towns and 71,881 families followed by Nueva Ecija with 235 barangays in 24 towns and 71,881 families while Zambales posted the smallest number with 54 barangays in seven towns and 13,748 families at risk.
In Olongapo City, the Multi-Purpose Skills Training Center, the East Tapinac Oval Track, the Remy Field at the SBMA, Upper Mau Camp (SBMA), barangay halls and five schools have been identified as potential evacuation centers.
DRRMO chief Angie Layug advised Olongapenos to fix their roofs, clean their gutters and help the city government in cleaning and de-silting canals and waterways. Layug also said that in cases of torrential rains, residents living within the vicinity of areas prone to landslides, rockslides and floods should exercise precautionary measures and be ready to evacuate before the situation worsens.
Likewise, the City Health Office is reminding the public to dispose of containers that might collect water and clean up potential breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
“Now is the best time to search for and destroy mosquito breeding grounds so we can limit their population density even before the rainy season hits,” said City Health Officer Dr. Arnildo Tamayo. “If we do not limit the population of mosquitoes, chances are, there will be more mosquitoes to bite people and transfer dengue,” he added.
Mosquitoes are very prolific breeders; it only takes 12 days for a mosquito egg to become an adult mosquito. A female Aedes aegypti mosquito (the specie that carries dengue) is fertile throughout its life and can lay 60 to 100 eggs each time.
Dengue has become a year-long communicable disease in the country. With the upcoming rainy season, cases are expected to increase significantly.
The city government advises the public to inspect and regularly replace water in flower vases, pails and uncovered containers as they become mosquito breeding grounds.