FLOODED. Pedestrians wade through the flooded corner of Taft and United Nations Avenues in Manila on Sept. 28, 2023. Senator Revilla Jr. on Tuesday (April 30, 2024) urged the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metro Manila Development Authority to take proactive measures “before” the start of the rainy season to mitigate potential disaster caused by widespread flooding. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on Tuesday called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to adequately prepare for the impending La Niña season, expected to bring heavier rainfall than usual.
In a statement, Revilla emphasized the importance of undertaking proactive measures “before” the start of the rainy season to mitigate potential disaster.
“Ngayon ang pinakamagandang panahon para siguruhin na malinis ang lahat ng mga daluyang tubig at iba pang tributaries, walang bara ang mga drainage, at dapat yung mga pumping station 100 percent operational (Now is the right time to ensure that all waterways and tributaries are clean, drainages are not clogged, and pumping stations are 100 percent operational),” the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Works said.
“Ngayon pa lang, kumilos na tayo. Gawin na natin lahat ng magagawa natin para masigurong handa tayo kung sakaling dumating man ang sakuna, hindi yung nandiyan na yung bagyo at saka pa lang magkukumahog kumilos (Let’s act now. Let’s do everything we can to ensure that we are ready for potential disasters, and not act haphazardly when the storm is already upon us)," Revilla said.
Last month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that there is a 55 percent chance for a La Niña to develop starting June 2024.
The last La Niña in the country lasted for three straight years, from September 2020 until early 2023, according to PAGASA.
Apart from La Niña, the state weather bureau is also expecting 13 to 16 typhoons in the latter half of 2024.
Meanwhile, Revilla is also proposing the use of rainwater harvesters as one of the effective solutions to address the perennial problem of flooding in different parts of the country during the rainy season. (PNA)
