LOREN GIVES NAPOCOR DEADLINE FOR NEW PROTOCOL

In light of the massive flooding that ensued upon the abrupt release of water from the San Roque Dam at the height of Typhoon Pepeng, Senator Loren Legarda demanded the National Power Corporation (Napocor) to revise their protocol for the safe release of water and in giving advanced warnings to local communities, setting November 30 as the deadline.

"The flood that nearly drowned the whole of Pangasinan highlights the need for timely, informative and comprehensive protocol and early warning systems. Napocor must spell it out very clearly and specifically, and allow people to fully understand how to deal with such situations. This could spell the difference between life and death for many," said the lady Senator, chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

During the public hearing of the Senate Oversight Committee on Climate Change, Loren asked Napocor to revise and update the protocols pertaining to early warning systems, the manner of releasing water, and coordination between Napocor and local power corporations.

"Napocor has admitted that there was a lapse in communication in opening the dam. While that admission is appreciated, they need to step it up and revise the outdated, inefficient protocol on which they operate," she said.

Loren further called on government agencies to build up the country's early warning system , especially with extreme weather events becoming the norm.

"Timely preventive response to disaster risk requires effective early warning systems that are technically sound, politically viable and communally acceptable. It will take concerted efforts from government and civil society to curb the growing disaster risks due to climate change. We need to secure human life and livelihood, and protect our hard-earned socio-economic gains," she said.