Albay to redraw 'risk maps' vs La Niña

MANILA, Philippines - Disaster officials in Albay are planning to redraw the province’s “risk maps” in preparation for the onslaught of La Nina this year.

They said previously declared safe areas had been hit by massive flashfloods, landslides and even lahar flows from Mt. Mayon.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda also ordered the reactivation of a task force to better prepare residents against La Nina.

Salceda said the province had put into effect the Reactivated Albay Task Force La Niña 2012 (RATFLAN 2012), with an initial budget of P22 million, as part of his “zero casualty” program during disasters.

This early, he said, the Albay provincial government has retooled its action plan against intensified rains and flooding that might be brought by La Niña.

He said preparations started last December with trainings on weather-related hazards and responses conducted by the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) for the province’s 720 barangays.

Aerial inspections of Albay’s lahar zone in its second district, flood plains in its third district, and landslide prone areas in the province were also undertaken last month by the Office of Civil Defense, APSEM, and the Philippine Air Force Task Operations Group 5. 

He said the onset of the northeast monsoon in the last quarter of 2011 has brought about so much rain, prompting the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to issue public safety advisories.

Aside from updating risk maps, Salceda said steps are also being initiated to strengthen community-based real time warning systems using rain gauge stations and flood marker.

He said the province would install CCTV in five critical locations, conduct a sustained communication through its disaster Infoboard, and improve evacuation plan and procedures in time of disaster.