PRESS RELEASE
16 NOVEMBER 2024
CUA CALLS FOR INTER-GOVT COLLABORATION IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT
"Time to get serious about inter-government collaboration."
This was the call of Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines president and Quirino governor Dax Cua as he urged both the national and local government to embark on creating a collaborative system for disaster risk response, reduction, and mitigation.
"We are facing unprecedented times and it is becoming more evident that we have to face the effects of a harsher climate together, instead of allowing local government units to deal with them by themselves," Cua said.
In the month of November alone, four storms have developed simultaneously in the Western Pacific Ocean, which the first time that such phenomenon has occurred since storm recording began in 1951, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The spate of weather disturbances has caused massive destruction and flooding in Northern Luzon and other areas.
"The problems that lead to severe flooding, for example, are various and interconnected. These must not be dealt with by one town alone, but rather by clusters of towns, cities, and provinces that are affected," he added.
Cua said that many experts emphasize the need for an inter-agency and inter-LGU approach to disaster management.
He also urged a "nature-focused approach", as he renewed his call for aggressive replanting of indigenous trees on mountains and along water channels to reduce flooding.
"The reason why we are dealing with greater flooding is because the trees that prevent the onrushing of water are gone," lamented Cua.
The governor also called for a shift away from road-raising projects, and said that LGUs should instead focus on rainwater harvesting and water detention facilities.
"This way, we can reuse the water that would otherwise flood our communities for agricultural, industrial, and even household purposes," he said.
"Lastly, we should be humble enough and solicit the help of experts to help us craft a strategy that would protect our communities," Cua added.
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