CANDABA - Some residents in Barangay San Agustin here are preparing for the rainy season by putting strengthening wires on their stilt houses in anticipation of heavy rains and strong typhoons.
Joshua Lipana, one of the residents, said several houses are made up of light materials and it could be easily destroyed by winds and that's why it has become a practice to put strengthening wires during this season.
"Karaniwan na ang paglalagay ng serga sa mga kabahayan dito tuwing tag ulan. Pinaghahandaan natin kasi ang mga malalakas na ulan at hangin na tangay ng mga bagyo. Sa pamamagitan ng ganitong paghahanda ay natitiyak namin na ligtas ang aming mga pamilya pati na rin ng ilang kagamitan na aming naipundar," Lipana said.
Lipana added that they need to be prepared anytime because even the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) is "no longer a reliable source" as to when and where typhoons will hit.
He cited the recent Typhoon Basyang where the people of Metro Manila were caught unprepared as Pagasa failed to make an accurate forecast on the extent of coverage of the said typhoon.
"Sa kabilang banda hindi naman natin masisisi ang mga taga Pagasa. Luma at kulang sila ng makabagong kagamitan upang maayos nilang magampanan ang kanilang mga tungkulin. Siguro panahon na rin upang suportahan ng todo ng pamalahaan ang Pagasa sa pagbili ng mga kagamitan sapagkat ang buhay ng mga Pilipino ang nakasalalay sa kanila, kaya sa halip na pagalitan ay bigyan natin sila ng sapat na pondo," he said.
The residents are also fixing their "bangka" (boats) as they expect floods to come anytime now. They said that riding the "bangka" is a way of life for the community folks.
It was observed that all households have their own "bangka" stationed under their stilt houses.
"Kapag tumira ka dito dapat nakahanda ka sa baha, kaya kung napansin mo lahat ng mga pamilyang nakatira dito mayaman man o mahirap ay may sariling bangka," one of the residents said.