Can residents count on Talisay's disaster body for quick response?

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Rodi Cabigas is set to ask today the city council about the readiness of the city's Disaster Risk Reduction Management team to respond to calamities.

Cabigas's move comes on the heels of a landslide that took place in the upland barangay of Manipis Saturday which it took the city several hours to send help.

Cabigas is the council's majority floor leader and chairman on committee on Infrastructure.

"I will propose to the council to re-convene our Disaster Risk Reduction Management council to see how ready we are during disasters.

We really have to prepare 24 hours because we don't know when we will be struck by calamities," Cabigas said.

Last Saturday's landslide covered a portion of the road in Manipis, a landslide-prone village of Talisay.

"Fortunately, there was an on-going construction near the site, hence, the city was able to send a needed heavy equipment to clear the area," Cabigas said.

A negligible landslide also took place during the weekend after the heavy rains in sitio Iba, Lagtang, another upland village while another portion of the same village was flooded since the drainage system built by the subdivision developer there overflowed due to the deluge of rainwater coming from the upper portion of the barangay.

"We also need to check our heavy equipment to see if these are still serviceable. What we want to happen here is for us to act immediately if we receive reports of a landslide or flood or any disaster to prevent further damage to properties or loss of lives," he said.