Pagasa boosts disaster preparedness in LGUs
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) has tied up with telecommunications giant Smart Communications to boost disaster preparedness among Metro Manila residents.
“Tropical storm Ondoy was the second most destructive cyclone in the world in 2009. The country is prone to the most severe disasters,” PAGASA deputy director Nathaniel Servando said.
Smart Community Partnerships senior manager Darwin Flores said the weather bureau and the company installed rain gauges in 50 public schools in flood-prone areas across the country.
Schools are given instruments to measure the amount of rainfall, which will be recorded by students.
Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones, meanwhile, said the programs aim to reach out to local leaders because they are at the forefront of disaster response whenever calamities struck an area.
“More disasters have devastated the country, and our priority concern is safety. One way of ensuring their safety is by equipping them with disaster preparedness measures, particularly in the event of a typhoon and flood. Not only are family members are able to help save themselves, they might also be instrumental in bringing others to safety,” he said. (PNA)
