Photo by Facts and Figures Newsweekly
CONCEPCION, TARLAC — Mayor Noel Villanueva has directed municipal department heads to identify immediate interventions and long-term measures following the heavy rains that affected several areas in the municipality in recent days.
Villanueva convened the department heads immediately after the weekly flag-raising ceremony on Sept. 1 to assess the situation and discuss measures to address the impact of the inclement weather.
The mayor said the local government needs to move beyond temporary responses and pursue longer-term solutions to recurring problems brought about by heavy rainfall.
“Sa pagsalubong natin ng ‘-BER’ months, haharapin natin ito sa masusing pagresolba, hindi lamang ng mga ‘band-aid solutions’ kundi pati na rin pangmatagalang ginhawa para sa ating bayan,” Villanueva said.
He said the meeting was intended to determine the necessary actions that municipal offices could undertake in response to the recent rains while also looking at measures that could strengthen the municipality’s preparedness in the coming months.
Despite the directive allowing government offices to adopt alternative work arrangements, the municipal government opted to keep its offices open to ensure the continued delivery of essential services to residents.
Alternative learning modalities remain in place for students. School heads and administrators were also urged to prioritize the cleanup and inspection of school facilities and ensure that these are safe before they are fully utilized by learners.
Villanueva likewise called on residents to remain vigilant, monitor official announcements and cooperate with local government efforts to keep communities clean and safe.
The mayor said the municipal government would continue to respond to immediate concerns while working on longer-term measures to improve the municipality’s resilience to heavy rains and other weather-related risks. (Bonifacio Dacayanan)