LAOAG CITY — At least seven satellite evacuation centers in the province are now replenished with canned goods and other basic commodities, ready for any eventuality that may arise this rainy season.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) head Lilian Caliva Rin bared this on Monday, in the light of the moderate to heavy monsoon rains being experienced in the province in the past few days.
Located in various strategic places of the province, Rin said “the evacuation centers of the province are packed with relief goods consisting of food and non-food items. Among these are blankets, used clothing and cooking essentials.”
According to Rin, the PSWDO, under the “Lolo and Lola’s Watch” program, also came up with a database of senior citizens, who are living alone in their respective houses. During typhoons, they will be prioritized in the monitoring.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) noted that some senior citizens living alone were the most vulnerable during heavy rains and strong winds brought about by past typhoons.
While some of them opted to evacuate to safer ground during flash floods, some of the elders preferred to stay in their own houses despite risks of being swept away.
Aside from monitoring the elderlies during typhoons, the PDRRMC has also requested all assigned barangay health workers and councilors to do similar watch over persons with disabilities, particularly those living in highly vulnerable areas. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)