Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 9) — Vice President Sara Duterte called for the establishment of an effective flood control system and improvements on communities’ disaster preparedness on Monday, days after heavy rains affected thousands of residents in Bulacan.
In a statement, Duterte said there’s an “urgent need for effective flood control infrastructures and disaster management response in reinforcing the communities’ capacity to prevent the occurrence of a calamity.”
Her office conducted a relief operation for families affected by heavy flooding as three major dams in the province reached spilling levels due to bad weather.
READ: Bad weather, flooding displace thousands in Aurora and Bulacan
A low pressure area and the northeast monsoon or amihan brought persistent rains in the past days and affected the water levels of dams.
On Saturday, Bulacan officials said 780 families or 3,162 individuals evacuated from 22 barangays.
“Sa panahon ngayon, hindi pa man dumadating ang bagyo ay nakakaranas na tayo ng baha. Importanteng alam ng bawat miyembro ng pamilya at komunidad kung ano ang gagawin kapag may emergency. Kapag sinabi ng ating local na gobyerno na kailangan lumikas, sundin po natin ang payo ng mga awtoridad bago pa man dumating ang sakuna o trahedya,” she said.
