3 Central Luzon provinces form alliance on disasters

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Three provinces in Central Luzon recently formed an alliance on disaster preparedness and mitigation campaign.

Candaba, Pampanga Mayor Jerry Pelayo, who presided over the meeting, said officials of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils from Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan have agreed to form an alliance.

Pelayo said the alliance would pave the way for the creation of a “command post” that would serve as converging point of all flood-stricken municipalities along the stretch of Pampanga River and its major tributaries.

Pelayo underscored the need to strengthen the local governments’ efforts on communication and coordination in times of calamities.

Engineer Josephine Legaspi, administrative officer of the Nueva Ecija Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said they would provide timely information on anything that may trigger flooding in Candaba.

“Through text messages, we can easily get updates on the water level during typhoons,” said Rodolfo Santos, municipal disaster action officer of Hagonoy town in Bulacan.

Lulu Alingcastre, Pampanga provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, said Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda has ensured that evacuation centers are available every time there is a typhoon.