The Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) sees the importance of data base for better planning especially on disaster preparedness, following the recent widespread flooding experienced in the province.
PDRRM Officer Jerry Alili said learning history, particularly in disasters, will help lessen the impact on the community. It was after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that the heavy downpour observed on February 9 was the highest in the last 50 years, with 341.7 millimeters (mm) for Puerto Princesa City.
February normally reaches 30.7 mm of rainfall, and the highest for the month was recorded on February 16, 2012 with 140.8 mm. However, the recent record surpassed the 269.3 mm-highest rainfall in the city on December 29, 1975.
“We really need to work on the database, mas magkaroon ng magandang database. Kaya ngayon, panay ang ikot namin to document everything. Sa 300 millimeter, sa ganitong klaseng ulan, hanggang saan ang tubig sa mga area na ito so we can calibrate our warning system in the future para alam na natin at hindi na tayo mabibigla,” he said.
Alili said recording the potential increase and velocity of water would help improve the plans, particularly in disaster risk reduction, noting the need of focusing on zoning to see the areas that should not have been occupied by residents and establishments.
The PDRRMO also sees the importance of upgrading their equipment.
“Yong importance nong zoning na may mga area pala na dapat talaga ay hindi tinitirhan ng tao. Dahil tinirhan ng tao, maraming kailangan i-evacuate. May areas pala na dapat walang structures, ating mga kalsada ay marami sanang tawiran ng tubig para hindi umapaw sa kalsada at tuluyang masira,” he added.
The flooding happened after the shear line-triggered rains had submerged houses and properties in different towns located in the southern portion of Palawan and some barangays in the city of Puerto Princesa.
Puerto Princesa City and the municipalities of Narra and Aborlan have already been placed under the state of a calamity.
Alili emphasized the need to thoroughly review the need for a declaration of a state of calamity for the province of Palawan, as it entails consideration of a budget for the provincial government.
He said that while the national government would extend support to Palwan, it is essential to rationalize the utilization of funds. PDRRMO is also looking into other available resources, such as realignment of the budget and trust fund.
“Kailangan namin pag-aralan nang maayos ito kasi maraming factors … na sa ikalawang buwan pa lang tayo ng taon. We didn’t expect na mangyayari ito during the driest month of the year—it may happen in June, March, or May, and so on, so magdi-declare tayo ng state of calamity ay baka maubusan tayo ng pondo,” he said. (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
