Blue Alert stays in Kalinga as rains persist and hazards loom

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The Province of Kalinga remains under Blue Alert status as persistent rains, an enhanced southwest monsoon, and succeeding weather disturbances continue to pose risks of flooding, landslides, and ground movement in vulnerable areas.

In an interview, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Operations Officer and LDRRM Officer II Jeswinder Basiwal said the province has maintained the heightened alert level as a precaution, particularly because continued rainfall has saturated the ground and may increase the risk of weather-related hazards.

The Blue Alert status was initially implemented through a memorandum order issued on August 6 during the period of Typhoon Maymay. Basiwal said authorities decided to maintain the alert as the enhanced southwest monsoon continues and another weather disturbance approaches, although the latter remains outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

"Daytoy nga memorandum order tayo ket di August 6 pay ngem itultuloy tayo latta enhanced southwest moonsoon ken daytoy pay paumay nga maysa. Outside PAR pay met ketdi ngem kasla preparedness action... karkaaru ta continues ti tudo ket saturated en ti daga isu nga suruten tayo latta daytoy nga blue alert. Haan tayon nga ag-downgrade ta adda met dagitoy nga sumaruno," she said.

Basiwal explained that maintaining the alert is primarily a preparedness measure, allowing authorities to remain ready before weather conditions worsen rather than waiting for an emergency to develop.

Under the province's disaster alert system, White Alert corresponds to normal conditions, although personnel remain on standby. Once Blue Alert is activated, the Operations Center functions as an emergency center, while response personnel are required to remain on standby in preparation for a possible escalation.

"Nu white alert ket isu diay normal days ngem on standby tayo latta met ketdi. Nu blue alert met ket maa-activate ti operation center, agbalin nga emergency center. Daytoy blue alert ket kasla i-require na nga ag-standby tayo latta as precaution karkaru nu ag-escalate ti weather condition. Adda met ti red, isu nu ag-escalate to worst conditions," she explained.

The highest level, Red Alert, is imposed when weather and disaster conditions escalate to more severe levels requiring intensified response operations.

Basiwal said Kalinga's response personnel are currently prepared for deployment, with various emergency response clusters already coordinating with one another.

The coordinated response involves the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

"As of now, naka-standby amin tapnu ready for deployment nalang if ever. Amin dagiti response cluster ket naka-synchronize da metten, PNP, BFP, AFP, PDRRMO, CDRRMO."

The continued Blue Alert comes as several areas of the province experience weather-related disruptions, while authorities continue to monitor communities vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and ground movement.

Basiwal said 13 families or 45 individuals, including 21 males and 24 females, all residents of Sitio Aloy, Barangay Guilayon, Tabuk City, evacuated to relatives' homes on August 8 due to heavy rains and concerns over ground conditions.

Basiwal also urged residents to remain vigilant as the rains continue, particularly those living in or traveling through hazard-prone areas.

Residents are encouraged to monitor official weather advisories from DOST-PAGASA, avoid unnecessary travel during hazardous conditions, and follow instructions from disaster and emergency response agencies.

"Ken dagitoy kailyan tayo met, dapat maging alert tayo latta met krkaru ta kastoy ti weather nga consistent rains. I-monitor tayo ti weather metlang through DOSST-PAGASA page, dagiti safety tips metlang karkaru ti travelers ta nu haan nga mrgency ket haan ayo kuman nga ituloy nga agbyahe. Karu ditoy prone ti landslide and flooding, haan tayo nga urayen nga ma-flood or ma-landslide satayo tun nga agkuti. Dapat sumurot tayo kuma ken dagiti protocols and guidelines ti agencies nga frontliners," she said.

For the PDRRMC, maintaining the Blue Alert is not an indication that a disaster is already occurring, but a precautionary measure designed to ensure that Kalinga's response system is activated and personnel are prepared to act should weather conditions deteriorate.