BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The city government appealed to the residents residing near or in hazardous areas to immediately evacuate before a typhoon hits or when southwest monsoon(habagat) is forecast to bring excessive rains.
City Administrator Engr. Bonifacio Dela Peña said that with the weather bureau forecasts, the communities can already have their evacuation plans in place before a tropical cyclone hits the area.
He called on to the residents to cooperate and follow advisories from the local government unit and other authorities.
"Kami ay nakikiusap, kapag ganitong malakas ang ulan, 'yung mga tao na malapit or on hazardous areas, lumikas na po kayo. Makakatulong po kayo sa amin kung lilikas na po tayo, huwag nating hihintayin 'yung oras na talagang bumabagyo na, umuulan na," Dela Peña urged.
Dela Peña assured that the evacuation centers in the city are ready to accommodate evacuees and provide for their basic needs.
With Super Typhoon Egay that battered Northern Luzon last week, the city recorded 610 families or 2,573 individuals affected by of which 64 families were sheltered in the 12 evacuation centers, while 546 families were served outside evacuation centers. There were 14 totally damaged houses or properties while 273 were partially damaged.
The city also reported one fatality and four injured due to landslides.
The LGU provided relief items and financial assistance to the typhoon-affected families, aside from the assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. .
"'Yung mga pamilya na hindi ho namin nabibigyan na hindi namin nalalaman, ipaalam ni'yo na ho sa amin at makakarating po sa inyo ang tulong ng local government unit," Dela Peña said.
As of this writing, the Benguet Electric Cooperative is still working to restore the power supply in several barangays in the city.
Baguio is currently experiencing continuous rain due to the prevailing southwest monsoon being enhanced by Typhoon Khanun (Falcon) which is now located between Southern Japan and China. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)
