Pangilinan bats LGUs for regular barangay-based typhoon drills

MANILA, October 7, 2011-After surveying flooded areas and conducting relief goods operation in Pampanga and Bulacan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Foods Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan urges the Local Government Units (LGUs) and other disaster agencies to include typhoon drills as part of their efforts in disaster preparedness and mitigation.

Pangilinan said that as a means to strengthen disaster preparedness and educate our citizens on the necessity of evacuation operations and procedure during times of typhoons, LGUs and Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils should undertake typhoon drills on a regular basis.

“Our schools and offices undertake earthquake drills regularly even if we have earthquakes perhaps once or twice a year, yet we do not have typhoon drills despite the fact that we have 20 typhoons hitting the country yearly,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said that local officials and rescue workers say that when typhoons Pedring and Quiel hit, most homeowners refused to leave their property despite early warnings of flooding. This prompted a debate on whether the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should use forced evacuation procedures in such cases, saying that typhoon drills would address this concern as this will give the public the necessary information.

He added that disaster preparedness is the best way to ensure that lives are saved, and death and injuries brought down to a minimum.

“After conferring with local officials in Pampanga, Bulacan, AFP and PNP, we see this drill as an effective way to educate and enlighten our citizens on the issue,” Pangilinan explained. (Jason de Asis)