CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Over 100 purok leaders from the 28 barangays, including barangay and city officials in the City of Naga in southern Cebu, will be oriented on the impact of La Niña (LN), especially on the health hazards amid frequent perennial rains on Sept. 20.
The pulong pulong, dubbed ‘Barangayan sa Bagong Pilipinas on La Niña Alert,’ undertaken by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 7 in partnership with the City Government of Naga, aims to provide timely, relevant, and accurate information about LN, and the weather projections in the coming months and its possible impact on health.
Expected to attend are the purok federation presidents of the 28 barangays, 37 purok presidents in barangay Cantao-an, 28 barangay captains, and city and other barangay officials who are crucial frontliners relative to disaster preparedness and response.
The venue of the activity will be in Barangay Cantao-an, a mountainous barangay susceptible to landslides.
Invited agencies to talk before the participants are PAGASA Mactan on weather projection and LN updates and the Department of Health (DOH) 7 on waterborne diseases and other related health hazards amid the LN phenomenon.
The city LGU is also expected to showcase its disaster preparedness and management.
Aside from the briefing, the PIA-7 also invited the DOH-7 and the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Visayas Command, through the Philippine Navy (PN), to provide services to community residents in the barangay and nearby areas.
DOH-7 will be providing immunization services, such as flu and pneumococcal vaccines for senior citizens as priority, except for those with co-morbidity, while the PN will provide haircutting services.
Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong earlier said that information to prevent or mitigate the impact of natural disasters is very critical to minimize the risks of damage, but more importantly thwart the loss of lives.
Meanwhile, PAGASA already announced that the country is under LN Alert Status with 66 percent likelihood of forming in September-October-November period, and will likely persist until the first quarter of next year.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has already ordered concerned agencies to be proactive and aggressive in dealing with La Niña. (FCR/PIA-7 Cebu)
