By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) recently confirmed receiving a memo from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directing them to begin preparations for the impending rainy season, which they speculate will be formally declared in the coming days.
PDRRMO head, Dr. Zeaphard Caelian, said the memo was handed to them during a meeting last week with DILG-Negros Occidental director, Engr. Carmelo Orbista. Also included in the memo were the presidents of various Associations of Barangay Captains in Negros Occidental.
Caelian confirmed, during the meeting, several local government units had already made preparations by cleaning up rivers and various waterways in their respective jurisdictions.
He also advised residents living near flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to exercise caution./DGB, WDJ