City’s rainy season preparations, bared

23 July 2021 – Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the city continues to increase its capacity and capability to meet challenges brought about by calamities like typhoons and earthquakes.

During the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (CDRRMC) third-quarter meeting, July 16, he said the flood mitigation warning and information system acquired from Australia thru a $600,000 Asian Development Bank grant is expected to be put in place by September.

Flood sensors will be located in the Summer Capital’s flood-prone areas that will form part of Baguio’s Smart City program, the Mayor said.

He said the city will purchase a P10 million life detector system that could detect life or a beating heart beneath 10 to 12 meters of rubble caused by erosion due to typhoons or earthquakes making it possible to save more lives.

This is in addition to more emergency rescue equipment that will be acquired to bolster the city’s stock, the Mayor said.

Among rainy season preparations agreed on during the meeting is the inclusion of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Baguio City Police Office, and City Buildings and Architecture Office in the joint inspection of evacuation centers with the CDRRM Office.

Also included are the proposed establishment of a temporary evacuation facility for household pets; forging partnerships with the private sector to bolster the city environment and parks management office’s equipment; calling for the intensification of the city’s anti-dengue drive; and more.-Gaby B. Keith