CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), in partnership with the City Government of Naga, held its 1st ‘Barangayan sa Bagong Pilipinas on La Niña Alert’ in Barangay Cantao-an, City of Naga, Cebu, on Sept. 20.
Over 100 purok leaders from 28 barangays, along with barangay and city officials, attended the pulong-pulong with guests from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Department of Health (DOH), and officials from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Naga City.
The discussion covered La Niña updates, health hazards, and the efforts of the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
In his remarks, City Councilor Josie Dakay, who represented Mayor Valdemor Chiong, noted that the activity aims to equip officials and frontliners of the barangay with information they need during times of disaster and hazards.
“Kini ilang gihimo karon, usa ni sa gitawag ug information education campaign diin kita mahimong dunay kaalam sa unsay posible natong buhaton sa mga dagkong mahitabo sa atong lugar. Mao ni nga salamat kaayo sa inyong paghatag og oras. Hinaot inig uli nato duna gyud tay mabitbit og madala nga kaalaman nga magamit sa panahon nga dunay kalamidad nga muabot,” said Dakay.
(This thing they are doing now is part of what we call an information education campaign, where we gain knowledge about what we can possibly do in case major events happen in our area. That’s why we are very thankful for the time you have given. Hopefully, when we return home, we will bring with us knowledge that can be used when disasters come).
Meanwhile, PAGASA weather specialist II Therese S. Sabellano said that with the country experiencing La Niña, she encouraged the public to regularly check their weather advisories.
“Unsaon nato pagkabalo nga naay El Niño? Masinati nato ang kainit, unya ang atong hangin dili kayo ingon ana ka kusog, and lastly, gamay ra ang panganod. Karon, ania ta sa La Niña Alert, so ang atong buhaton mao ang pagpangandam ug magsige ta og check sa weather updates,” Sabellano noted.
(How do we know if there is El Niño? We will feel the heat, the wind won’t be as strong, and lastly, there will be fewer clouds. Right now, we are under a La Niña Alert, so what we need to do is prepare and regularly check weather updates).
DOH 7 medical officer IV of the Regional Health Emergency Management Section, Dr. Shelbay Blanco, also emphasized the importance of knowing the possible health problems related to La Niña, such as water-borne infectious diseases, influenza, leptospirosis, and dengue.
“Nagpuyo ta sa geographical location nga dali ra gyud maagian og bagyo. Naa sad ta sa Pacific Ring of Fire, daghan og fault lines, daghan og tornado, og naa sad ta sa tunga-tunga sa Pacific nga agianan gyud og bagyo, nga gitawag og typhoon belt. Mao importante gyud nga kita mangandam. Aware ta sa mga posibleng sakit nga pwede motakboy aning mga panahona,” Blanco said.
(We live in a geographical location that is easily hit by typhoons. We are also in the Pacific Ring of Fire, with many fault lines, numerous tornadoes, and we are in the middle of the Pacific, which is a pathway for typhoons, known as the typhoon belt. That’s why it’s very important for us to prepare. We should be aware of the possible diseases that can spread during these times).
He also underscored the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management for Health (DRRM-H), a framework within the health sector that focuses on reducing health risks and managing health-related aspects during disasters and emergencies, which should be institutionalized at all levels of governance.
At the sidelines of the Barangayan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Visayas Command, through the Philippine Navy, provided free haircut services, while DOH-7 administered flu and pneumococcal vaccines to senior citizens of Barangay Cantao-an and nearby areas. (MYP/PIA7)
