City to collaborate with MisOr municipal govts for flash flood alert system

THE 19th City Council during its regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy enacted an ordinance authorizing the City Mayor to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the city government of El Salvador and municipal governments of Alubijid, Balingasag, Gitagum, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan and Villanueva of Misamis Oriental, as well as with LGUs Manolo Fortich, Libona, Talakag and Baungon, all of Bukidnon.

This is to address the perennial threat of floods which in the past have resulted in the loss of lives and properties in the city and its neighboring areas.

The MOA covers the collaboration of the parties in the establishment of an Assistance and Network Monitoring to answer the need for a functional Early Warning System (EWS) for flood/flash flood to alert all parties of imminent danger in their respective areas.

It is a joint undertaking between and among the parties through their respective Disaster Risk and Reduction Management departments or offices in order to mitigate loss of lives, imminent destruction of properties, agricultural crops and infrastructures.

Under the MOA, the parties shall provide assistance to each other in times of typhoons, storm surges, monsoon rains, floods, flash floods, landslides, soil erosion, drought, natural hazards, and other emergencies.

They shall also give timely notice, update and warn of any impending natural hazards, share any vital information, training, equipment and other similar undertakings that will improve and enhance its mandated tasks.

The parties are also expected to provide advice and support that will redound to the benefit of each other, develop plans that would enhance each respective capability to address and mitigate the damages caused by imminent hazards.

They shall also assist in responding to incidents that are adjacent and proximate to their respective jurisdictions for prompt response t0 save significant time.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction and on laws and rules respectively chaired by Councilors Teodulfo E. Lao, Jr., and Ian Mark Q. Nacaya.