CALAMBA CITY
(PIA) – Anticipating the
looming threat and impact
of El Niño in the Calabarzon region, the Regional
Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Council
(RDRRMC) has adopted
a comprehensive Regional Action Plan (RAP) to
mitigate the effects of the
weather phenomenon.
“We in the government, particularly in the
RDRRM Council should
hold our responsibility
to the people,” declared
RDRRMC Chairperson
and OCD CALABARZON
Regional Director Carlos
Eduardo E. Alvarez III
Alvarez notes
that collaboration among
government agencies and
various sectors are vital in
preparing and responding
to El Niño.
“We should work
hand in hand to prevent
and mitigate, prepare, respond, rehabilitate and recover from the impact of El
Niño and alleviate people
from suffering,” Alvarez
added.
The RAP outlines
strategies across various
sectors from preventative
measures like water conservation campaigns to
actual preparedness efforts. It also emphasizes
response plans and rehabilitation strategies for affected sectors throughout
the region.
National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) CALABARZON Regional Director Agnes Tolentino,
who played a key role in
crafting the plan, urges all
agencies and partners to
be more proactive in implementing their projects
and services for the public.
“We have a comprehensive plan, but the
work doesn’t end here.
I urge all agencies and
partners to continue their
support as we move from
planning to implementation. Together, we can
safeguard vulnerable
communities and ecosystems.”
According to
DOST-PAGASA, Calabarzon has a high likelihood
of below-normal rainfall, potentially leading to
drought in some areas.
Bernadette Lucillo of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and
Astronomical Services
Administration said that as
of January 2024, Cavite
has been experiencing
drought, Rizal is currently
facing a dry spell, Batangas and Laguna are now
under dry condition while
Quezon province still receives a normal amount of
rainfall.
“We are in a
strong and mature El Niño,
expected to last until May 2024. Transition to neutral conditions might not happen until April-May-June said Lucillo.
The RP-Mission
and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD), in its
“Boses ng Bayan” Annual Performance Report
for 2023, evaluated the
performance of House of
Representatives members from the CALABARZON Region, highlighting
exceptional accomplishments, particularly among
Representatives from
Cavite, Quezon, and Laguna Province. Leading
with outstanding scores
were Jolo Revilla (92.3%),
David “Jayjay” Suarez
(92.1%), and Amben
Amante (91.7%), ranking
at the top for their exemplary performance. The
analysis also recognized
Ralph Recto from Batangas (90.2%), Ann Matibag
from Laguna (88.8%), Aniela Tolentino from Cavite
(87.4%), Roberto Puno
from Antipolo City (86.2%),
and Len Alonte from Binan
City (85.9%) for their significant contributions.
Other notable
public officials include
Lani Mercado-Revilla from
Cavite (84.3%) and Cha
Hernandez from Calamba
City (83.8%), both in sixth
place, followed by Jinky
Bitrics Luistro from Batangas (82.1%) in seventh.
Roy Loyola of Cavite and
Mark Enverga of Quezon
were both in eighth place,
with scores of 80.3% and
80.2%, respectively. Ping
Remulla of Cavite and
Jack Duavit of Rizal, with
78.5% and 77.7%, tied for
ninth.
In subsequent
positions, Dan Fernandez of Santa Rosa and
Ruth Mariano-Hernandez
of Laguna both scored
76.2%, with Jam Agarao
of Laguna (75.8%), Jose
Arturo Garcia of Rizal
(73.4%), Pidi Barzaga of
Cavite (73.6%), Antonio
CALABARZON…
Ferrer of Cavite (71.5%),
Marvey Marino of Batangas (70.2%), and Fidel
Nograles of Rizal (69.6%)
following closely. AJ Advincula of Cavite ranked
14th with 68.3%, and the
list continued down to Lianda Bolilia of Batangas
at 60.3%.
Dr. Paul Martinez, the Executive Director of RPMD, outlined
the comprehensive evaluation criteria, including
‘District Representation’,
‘Legislative Performance’,
and ‘Constituent Service’,
to assess these officials
throughout 2023. These
criteria focused on their
advocacy, legislative contributions, and engagement with constituents,
providing a holistic view
of their year-long performance.
Dr. Martinez noted that a rating of 50% and
above signifies a passing
performance evaluation,
highlighting these ratings
as a direct endorsement
from constituents and a
testament to their commendable public service.
This recognition reflects
the positive impact and
appreciation of their districts.
The CALABARZON region’s survey is
part of the broader “Boses
ng Bayan” study by RPMD
conducted from December 27, 2023, to January
5, 2024, involving 10,000
adult participants to reflect
the views of the country’s
67.75 million registered
voters. With a rigorous
random selection method,
the survey aimed to accurately represent voter
demographics across districts, boasting a margin of
error of +/-1% and a 95%
confidence level. This meticulous approach ensures
a detailed and reliable insight into regional public
opinion. RPMD
