The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed local government units (LGUs) nationwide to step up preparedness and early response measures following the official onset of the rainy season, as the country braces for intensified rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).
In an advisory, the DILG called on governors, mayors, and barangay officials to immediately implement risk-reduction actions aimed at safeguarding communities vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and other weather-related hazards.
Local officials were instructed to closely monitor weather updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and ensure rapid coordination with disaster risk reduction and management offices for timely dissemination of warnings to affected communities.
The department emphasized the need for heightened alertness in high-risk areas, particularly flood- and landslide-prone communities, where forced evacuations must be carried out once warning thresholds are reached.
LGUs were also told to maximize the use of hazard monitoring tools, including geohazard maps from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as the DILG’s own L!STO manuals designed for localized disaster response.
As part of the government’s flood mitigation strategy under “Oplan Kontra Baha,” local authorities were directed to conduct clearing and declogging operations in drainage systems, esteros, and waterways to reduce the risk of flooding caused by waste buildup.
The DILG also underscored the importance of ensuring that evacuation centers and health facilities are structurally safe, accessible, and equipped with backup power and essential supplies.
Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) must remain fully operational, with response teams on standby and relief goods and rescue equipment prepositioned for rapid deployment, the department said.
Officials stressed that disaster preparedness at the local level plays a critical role in reducing casualties and damage, noting that timely action before a storm’s impact often determines community resilience during emergencies.
“With the onset of the rainy season, LGUs must remain vigilant and proactive in carrying out anticipatory actions. There is no room for complacency when lives and communities are at stake,” the DILG said.