MANILA -- The Department of Interior and Local Government said Wednesday it was coordinating with local government units to prepare for the La Niña, which is expected by the third quarter of the year.  

DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan said LGUs were given guindance on  protocols to ensure the safety of their constituents during extreme weather events such as typhoons, heavy rains, and flooding.

"Ilan lamang sa mga hakbangin ng mga LGU kung darating man ang mga malalakas na bagyo, at tag-ulan ay yung pagpulong ng kanilang Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council at pagsagawa ng La Niña Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment," Iringan said in a televised briefing.

"Kailangang iupdate nila yung local action plan o La Niña action plan. Kinakailangan din na magkaroon ng close coordination with PAGASA, at with the DENR, particularly ang MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau) para maupdate ang local hazard maps on rain induced landslides and flash floods,” he added.

Local governments were also directed to assess the structural integrity and capacity of evacuation centers and disaster operation hubs, the official added. 

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr recently directed local officials to prepare for the La Niña phenomenon.

“Mga kababayan, ang buong mundo po ay nahaharap sa matinding pagsubok dulot sa tinatawag na climate change, pagbabago po ng panahon. Extreme weather ang nararanasan natin. Matinding init ngayon at sa mga susunod na buwan naman ay asahan natin ang matindi naman na pag-ulan,” President Marcos said in a speech in Zamboanga City last May 9.

“Kaya naman po, nananawagan ako sa lokal na pamahalaan ng Zamboanga at sa mga karatig-bayan [nito sa] buong rehiyon: Maging handa po kayo sa lahat ng oras. Alamin natin ang pangangailangan ng ating mga nasasakupan at gumawa tayo ng mga programa na tiyak na makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan,” he continued. 

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