TO prevent loss of lives during flashfloods, the Talisay City Government will purchase an early warning system (EWS) device for eight barangays situated near the Mananga River.
Alvin Santillana, head of the Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, told reporters that the P4-million worth EWS is a type of device that will set an alarm if flooding in a river system reaches a certain height.
The EWS includes a sensor, rain gauge, weather station, a close-circuit television camera and a siren.
The device will be set up in Barangays Jaclupan, Lagtang, Tabunok, Lawaan 2, Lawaan 3, Biasong, San Isidro and Dumlog.
Santillana said that his office plans to install the EWS in barangays that are thickly populated and are close to the river.
Santillana said that the decision to buy the EWS was reached after Mayor Eduardo Gullas witnessed the refusal of some residents living in the riverbank to evacuate despite the increasing water level on the river.
Through the EWS, Santillana said that forced evacuation may be initiated even if flooding occurs at nightfall.
Santillana said that some local government units in Luzon are using the EWS as a gauge to implement immediate evacuation.