Baguio preparing for La Niña

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong has urged residents to prepare early for the La Niña phenomenon, which is expected to occur after the dry season.

“With the experience that we are having with El Niño, wherein we are now into the seventh month of drought, weather experts fear a possible rebound through La Niña. This phenomenon could mean strong typhoons and abnormally high rainfall. We have to prepare this early to avoid casualties and severe damage to properties,” Magalong said.

Baguio is implementing programs provided under the “Making Cities Resilient 2030,” which aims to make cities and human settlements safe, resilient and sustainable.

The city is rehabilitating its infrastructure and cleaning up drainage and waterways as well as installing slope protection fixtures.

Barangays are being prepared through continuous capacity building, information education and communication programs.

Barangay officials recently participated in a series of seminars on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

Magalong said emergency response would be fortified with the introduction of the Orange Bag Project, which requires every barangay to keep and make accessible tools that can be used during emergencies and calamities.

“The bag should contain all equipment necessary in responding to life-threatening situations and life-saving efforts,” he said.