Ilocos Norte identifies 116 evacuation centers; conducts drills in resiliency clusters

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

LAOAG CITY—With rainy season now in full swing, the newly-created Provincial Resiliency Task Force (PRTF) continues to prepare and strengthen the resiliency building of villages most vulnerable to hazards.

Early this week, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) has identified at least 116 functional evacuation centers classified as three stars, 2 stars and 1 star depending on the functionality of the evacuation center equipped with comfort rooms, kitchen and availability of food supply.

These evacuation centers, mostly composed of primary and secondary schools as well as district hospitals, municipal auditoriums and churches are now being readied for any eventualities particularly during the onslaught of natural calamities such as typhoon among others.

While doing so, the PRTF, now being chaired by provincial administrator Windell D. Chua has set schedules to conduct safety drills in resiliency clustered barangays to ensure that Ilocanos are better prepared in times of need. These cover the cities of Batac and Laoag and the municipalities of Bacarra, Bangui, Burgos, Pagudpud, Pasuquin, Piddig, Sarrat, Vintar, Badoc, Currimao, Dingras, Marcos, Paoay and Solsona.

The PRTF is composed of representatives from the Philippine National Police, Maritime, Philippine Army, Coastguard, Provincial Health Office, Environment and Natural Resources Office, PSWDO, Engineering and Office of the Barangay Affairs among others.

Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos reiterated that “it is better to be prepared and be able to have a quick response should there be unexpected eventualities based on the province’s given and uncontrolled situations.”

Learning from previous experience, the provincial government has called the attention of all local government units here involving barangay officials to provide feedback and contribute suggestions on how to become more resilient when a calamity or typhoon strikes.

Instead of gathering government equipment and displaying them on standby in front of the provincial Capitol during typhoon, these are now set up near flood-prone areas and in areas with usual reports of landslide, soil erosion during typhoon.

Meanwhile, the provincial information technology department of the Ilocos Norte Capitol is currently putting up station base and mobile base radios in various police stations here for faster and easier communication just in case telephone lines of major communication lines may break down during natural calamities.

John Paul Calamaan, head of Capitol IT department said at least 85 percent was already finished in the installation process while other installations are on-going in the towns of Marcos, Pinili, Badoc and Paoay.

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