Biliran villages asked to brace for flooding

BILIRAN, Biliran, July 13 (PNA) -- The provincial disaster and risk reduction management office has asked village officials to prepare for the implementation of local contingency plans to minimize the impacts of La Niña phenomenon.

About 90 percent of villages in the province are prone to flooding with the presence of river systems in seven of the eight towns.

“All barangays (villages) are informed about La Niña or rainy days that will likely hit many areas, including our province, from July 2016 to February 2017,” said Sofronio Dacillo, Jr., provincial disaster reduction and management officer.

Last year, the province held a contingency planning workshop for all concerned town and village officials. The gathering aims to unite members of the council with a common understanding of the situation, formulate appropriate policies and concrete action during emergencies.

It has also drawn commitments and coordinated efforts among member agencies and other stakeholders to identify critical next steps in implementing the plan.

The plan maps out dissemination of warning to vulnerable families, evacuation, post-disaster response, and immediate recovery efforts.

Biliran is subdivided into eight towns – Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan, Maripipi, and Naval. Of all areas, only Maripipi Island is not prone to flooding.

Biliran, one of the country’s smallest, has a population of 140,000. It was formerly a sub-province of Leyte until it became an independent province in 1992. Biliran lies less than a kilometer north of Leyte Island. (PNA)
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