The Ilocos Times

In our urban centers, disaster-victims can often be found with relative speed: the roads, addresses and communications are more or less in place, and rescue teams know where to look. In remote areas, however ­– mountain villages, far-flung barangays, communities cut off after storms and landslides ­– the challenge is far greater. And that leads to the question: How do we track down disaster victims in these remote, hard-to-reach zones?   The promise of technology Today , a host of modern tools are available: remote sensing , GIS , GPS , and increasingly, AI-powered localization systems . Put simply: Remote sensing : satellites and drones can scan large swathes of land, detect terrain changes, collapsed structures, heat signatures or other signs of human presence. GIS (Geographic Information Systems) : integrates spatial data (maps, terrain, infrastructure) with reports and sensor inputs so that responders can visualize where victims might be stranded. GPS : tracks the l...

  Laoag  Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Rey Carlos Fariñas presents his measure on the establishment of integrated water safety policy in the city of Laoag, and which was later approved on its third and final reading. (Doms dela Cruz) By Dominic B. dela Cruz, Staff reporter Laoag City —To ensure safety in infrastructure, trained personnel, and public awareness mechanisms in the prevention of drowning and related incidents, the Laoag Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved a bill calling for the establishment of integrated water safety policy. Laoag Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Rey Carlos Fariñas, who authored the measure, said that the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160) empowers local government units to promote the general welfare, including the protection of life and public safety. Record shows that drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death in the Philippines, particularly in coastal and recreational ar...

EMERGENCY DRILL. Responders use a boom truck to rescue a "victim" trapped inside a burning building during an earthquake drill at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol in Laoag City on October 17, 2025. The activity was part of a simultaneous large-scale drills held in the province to boost earthquake preparedness among Ilocanos. (Lei Adriano) By Leilanie Adriano LAOAG CITY—Local government units in Ilocos Norte, together with partner agencies including schools and private establishments, conducted simultaneous earthquake drills to boost readiness and proper response and emergency protocols on October 17, 2025. The drills were in line with the directive of Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure public safety. "Preparation is the key to any disaster and we must all be ready to respond effectively," Marcel Tabije of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said in an interview. ...

  Philippine  Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) staff share their disaster risk reduction and early warning systems to training participants. Manila —The United States Peace Corps, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), recently launched the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Toolkit, a comprehensive training guide designed to help Peace Corps volunteers and their partner communities build resilience by enhancing their disaster preparedness capability. The DRR Toolkit contains resources on developing disaster preparedness strategies, conducting risk assessments, managing community resources, and strengthening early warning systems.   As an inclusive training guide, the DRR Toolkit promotes the active participation of all community members in pre-disaster planning. From Oct. 14 to 18, 2024, the Peace Corps gathered 28 of its volunteers, staff, and work partners from the Philippine government and non-...

In response to disasters like severe tropical storm Kristine [international name Trami], Sen. Imee Marcos filed Senate Bill No. 186, which aims to create the National Resiliency and Disaster Management Authority. The said agency will focus on preparing, giving warnings, responding to and helping communities after calamities. “If we have a centralized authority for disaster management, we would be able to identify the most vulnerable zones and prepare properly against disasters,” Marcos said, calling for an agency that focuses on leading anything disaster-related. Marcos emphasized the lack of preparedness and coordination among provinces frequently affected by calamities, particularly in Bicol. “Bicol faces the Pacific, has an active volcano, and is subject to numerous accompanying threats, why hasn't a synchronized national response been established?” the senator questioned. The victims of severe tropical storm Kristine complained about the power outage, inadequate genset i...

RIVER DREDGING. A dredging operator at the mouth of the Bislak River in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte in this undated photo. Dredging activities are ongoing to anticipate heavy rains this rainy season, a local official said. ( Lei Adriano) By Leilanie Adriano & Dominic B. dela Cruz LAOAG CITY—Ilocos Norte’s provincial government is lending its backhoe, excavator, and other equipment to towns and barangays in the province to hasten the desilting of rivers and creeks in anticipation of heavy rainfall that could trigger flash floods in low-lying areas. Marcel Tabije, local disaster risk reduction and management officer of Ilocos Norte reported that the desilting of waterways is ongoing in the flood-prone areas of Paoay, Pinili, Badoc, and Pagudpud towns. “We are declogging these waterways in anticipation of heavy rains and bring back their depth to prevent overflow that inundates nearby communities,” Tabije said. Aside from lending equipment, the provincial government’s implementati...