The Ilocos Times

  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...