The provincial government, under the “Rural-Based Flood Preparedness Project versus La Nina II” or “Balsa kan Barangay: Noah’s Ark II,” will purchase new communications equipment and 18 more rubber boats to add to its fleet of 25, the fabrication of bamboo rafts, and the organization and training of community emergency response teams.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recently announced the return of La Niña starting this month. La Niña is a weather phenomenon that brings abnormally heavy rains and massive floods that wrought extensive damage and claimed many casualties in the past.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the risk of flash floods has doubled in Albay after lahar avalanches around Mayon Volcano opened new and deadlier flood paths that threaten populated areas previously deemed secure and safe. He said the province has some 173 flood-prone barangays in Albay: Libon town, 27; Polangui, 27; Oas, 24; Malinao, 15; Jovellar, 5; Guinobatan, 8; Camalig, 8; Ligao City, 15; Tabaco City, 15; and Legazpi City, 28.

“Human life is so precious and zero casualty must be stressed and reiterated as the ultimate goal in all disaster operations in the country,” Salceda said. He said Albay has shown that the zero-casualty goal is achievable in times of disasters, including the recent Typhoon Pedring when the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office evacuated close to 20,000 families, or about 100,000 individuals.

(Max V. de Leon)