UN-WFP strengthens Cagayan’s disaster preparedness

Wednesday 19th of September 2012

CAGAYAN, Sept 19 (PIA) -- To strengthen the preparedness and response capacity of the provincial government of Cagayan, the United Nations-World Food Programme (UN-WFP) has launched its second phase of projects in the five selected disaster vulnerable municipalities.

The WFP has pledged P17.2 million while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has committed P5.4 million and the local government unit of Cagayan and individual counterparts of the municipalities covered P10.1 million, totaling to over P32.7 million cost of projects that are focused on disaster mitigation, preparedness, risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the towns of Enrile, Amulung, Ballesteros, Sta Teresita and Aparri.

“New projects will strengthen the capability of the province to issue timely information on possible floods. With technical assistance of PAGASA, flood sensors and rain gauges will be installed in strategic areas as well as other projects that will mitigate effects of typhoons and floods,” Michelle McGonagle, coordinator, said.

In the phase I of the project, the first three flood high risk municipalities namely Amulung, Aparri, and Enrile were given assistance to strengthen their capacities in disaster preparedness.

The same set of municipalities will be assisted in phase 2 of the program, with the addition of Ballesteros and Sta. Teresita

In Amulung, an emergency storage facility has been constructed; Enrile town will purchase life-saving emergency equipments; Ballesteros proposed for an establishment of food and non-food storage facility; Aparri will pilot the planting of Vetiver grass along river banks to help mitigate erosions and flooding; and Sta Teresita proposed to establish a Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, installation of warning devices and cultivating of mangrove forest to mitigate floods.

McGonagle said the projects are expected to be completed up to September of 2013. They will constantly monitor the projects to ensure their completion. (OTB/PIA-2)