Manila – The Northern Samar provincial government has called on local village officials to actively participate in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters. Governor Edwin Ongchuan, addressing local officials on Thursday, emphasized the critical role of village heads and community members in enhancing disaster resilience. This appeal follows recent widespread floods in the province, affecting over 100,000 families.
According to Philippines News Agency, Ongchuan highlighted the need for collective effort and constant readiness to reduce risks and mitigate the impact of natural calamities. Village officials are tasked with establishing barangay risk reduction management committees, formulating risk reduction and management plans, and allocating funds for disaster response and recovery.
Rei Josiah Echano, head of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, stressed the importance of unity, cooperation, and preparedness to achieve zero casualties during typhoons and other calamities. He underscored the unpredictability of disasters, particularly stronger typhoons, and the necessity of continuous readiness assessment.
Northern Samar, recently recognized as a fully compliant provincial government in disaster risk reduction and management in the 2023 Gawad Kalasag national award, experienced heavy floods due to unprecedented rainfall. The floods caused significant damage to the agricultural sector, amounting to PHP99 million, and affected a vast number of families across the region.