BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong called for early preparations for the La Niña phenomenon expected to come on the heels of the drought suffered by residents mostly last month.
“With the experience that we are having with El Niño where we are now into our seventh month of drought, weather experts fear a possible rebound through the coming La Niña which would mean strong typhoons and abnormally high rainfall and so we have to prepare this early to avoid casualties and severe damage to properties,” Magalong said.
The Baguio City government is preparing through its programs under the “Making Cities Resilient (MCR) 2030” program where the city aims to become a resilient city by 2026 in face of the looming impact of climate change, the city mayor said.
Infrastructure preparatio ns are up with rehabilitation and clean-up of drainage and water ways and slope protection fixtures.
Barangays are also being prepared through continued capacity building and information education and communication programs.
Barangay officials recently underwent a series of seminars on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation to prepare their barangay response teams conducted by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office under engineer Charles Bryan Carame.
The mayor said that emergency response will be fortified with the introduction of the “orange bag” project where barangays will b e required to keep ready emergency tools in attending to emergency situations especially during calamities.
“The bags should contain all the equipment necessary in responding to different life-threatening situations so that they are prepared at all times to rescue and save lives,” the mayor said.
MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines drubbed La Salle, 89-77, in a rematc h between UAAP finalists to open the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup in style over the weekend at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
JD Cagulangan and Fra ncis Lopez connived as the Fighting Maroons exacted some payback on the Green Archers after a runner-up finish to the same team in the UAAP Season 86 finals late last year.
UP also handed La Salle, even with the presence of Kevin Quiambao, its first loss in any preseason leagues this summer after a 9-0 perfect championship run in the PBA D-League and an unbeaten 4-0 start in the Pinoy Liga thus far.
Cagulangan tallied 19 points, three assists and three steals while Lopez had 16 points, four assists and three steals with new reinforcement Dikachi Ududo in place of former ace Malick Diouf piling up six points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
“Alam nating first game pa lang ito pero seeing the players respond, ok na ok sa akin yun. Ang importante sakin is getting the exposure we need for all our players, especially against La Salle pa,” said head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Quiambao had 15 points, while PBA D-League MVP Mike Phillips and also new foreign student-athlete Henry Agunanne added 13 points apiece for the wards of coach Topex Robinson.
Meanwhile, Josh Tagala fired 20 points as NCAA champion San Beda trounced rival Letran, 76-69, even without NCAA Finals MVP James Payosing and star forward Yukien Andrada.
In other games, Mapua beat Lyceum, 75-67; University of Perpetual Help under new head coach Olsen Racela escaped Jose Rizal University in double overtime; 91-89, while University of the East took down Adamson, 65-57.