Following the establishment of Oplan Tag-Ulan, set up during a meeting of the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) Committee on Disaster Preparedness last week at the Iloilo City Hall penthouse, the CDRRMC is scheduled to meet with barangay officials from communities considered flood-prone on Thursday, June 22.

“The public must be informed in advance so that they can take action immediately,” said CDRRMO head Donna Magno. “It’s our responsibility to identify flood prone areas and the nearest evacuation centers available.”

Among the identified neighborhoods include Barangays Oñate De Leon, Navais, Calajunan, Airport, San Rafael, Dungon C, Sta. Rosa, Taft North, Bolilao, Bakhaw, Pali- Benedicto, Guzman, and Tabucan in the Mandurriao district; Barangays Calubihan, Desamparados, Dungon A and B, Tabuc Suba, Quintin Salas, Buntatala, Balabago, San Isidro, Tagbac, and Camalig in the Jaro district; Barangays Sta. Cruz, Mohon, Sto. Domingo, Yulo Drive, Dulonan, San Jose, and Sooc Arevalo in the Arevalo district; Barangays San Juan, Kasing-Kasing, Taal, East Timawa, West Timawa, Katlingban, and Compania Central in the Molo district; Barangays Zamora Melliza, Rizal Ibarra, Gen. Hughes, Santo Rosario Duran, and Veterans Village in the City Proper district; Barangays Aguinaldo, Burgos Mabini, Divinagracia, Jereos, Lopez Jaena Norte, Lopez Jaena Sur, Ticud, Banuyao in the La Paz district; and Barangays Sinikway, Don Esteban, Alalasan, and Punong in the Lapuz district.

“We are still expecting 10 to 13 tropical cyclones, which may occur from June to November,” Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III pointed out. “This is why our city needs to have [a] emergency preparedness plan.”/WDJ