THE country’s perennial problem on floods requires more than political stunts to resolve even as the Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) identified more than 9,000 barangays as vulnerable.
Taking cue from the data released by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) identified the Ilocos Region as “most vulnerable” with 2,933 barangays at risk of rain-induced landslides and floods.
For the last several days, the southwest monsoon or Habagat has triggered widespread rains across the country right after tropical cyclone Maymay unleashed its havoc across northern Luzon.
The southwest monsoon is further enhanced by Typhoon Maymay, even before it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
The MGB said Central Luzon has 1,997 barangays are also at risk of landslides, while Calabarzon encompassing the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, has 1,806 vulnerable barangays.
Metro Manila also has a significant number of barangays facing similar risks at 1,403 mostly in the cities of Manila, Las Piñas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque.
The Cordillera Administrative Region has 707 barangays at risk, while Cagayan Valley has 47.
Meanwhile, 113 barangays in the Mimaropa region (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) and 90 barangays in Western Visayas are also prone to floods and landslides
The Office of Civil Defense earlier confirmed the death of six people due to the combined effects of the southwest monsoon, as well as tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay.
