Mayor Paz Radaza (CDN FILE PHOTO)
LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza cautioned the barangay captains in a meeting yesterday morning to make the necessary preparations due to continuous rains and bad weather.
She instructed those barangay captains whose barangays have flooding problems like Basak, Maribago, Agus and Buaya to clear their drainage of garbage and advised residents to dump their garbage properly or else they would be issued citation tickets.
She also reminded those barangay captains in the coastal areas in Lapu-Lapu mainland and in Olango Island to warn their fishermen not to go to sea, and pumpboat operators not to sail across the Hilutongan Channel.
Radaza received reports from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) that many passengers were stranded as no pumpboats were allowed to cross the channel due to big waves over the weekend and last Monday.
The Marine and Sports Boat Operators Association Incorporated (MSBOAT) led by Barangay Marigondon Councilor Emeterio Bonghanoy, with a little more than a hundred members, already knew when and when not to sail when there is pending danger in the sea brought by bad weather conditions, gale warning and typhoons.
A coast guard personnel assigned in mainland Lapu-Lapu and in Sta. Rosa wharf in Olango Island also warned those operators of passenger pumpboats and island-hopping services not to sail.
Maribago Barangay Captain Joseph Pangatungan said there were some boat operators who ignored the warning despite the dangerous weather condition.
Radaza said she always reminded the CDRRMO headed by Andy Berame to monitor barangays that are still not aware about disaster preparedness to be able to assist their constituents in case of emergencies.
School principals, barangay captains and the City Social Welfare and Services Office already have an established protocol on how to evacuate residents to temporary shelters, such as schools, and feed the evacuees.
Radaza added that the city has been continuing its infrastructure projects to solve the drainage problem in the city.