As the effects of the most severe El Nino in years weaken, its dreaded counterpart, the La Nina is predicted by weather forecasters to occur in the last quarter of 2016.

El Nino is a warming in the equatorial Pacific Ocean while La Nina is a cooling of the waters.

In anticipation of the incoming La Nina, Governor Edgar Chatto issued a memorandum circular (MC) to all mayors urging them to initiate preparations to cope with the possible onslaught of violent storms and torrential rains lasting for days.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (PDRRMO) Anthony Damalerio told DYRD Balita that all Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMC) are now set to review their respective risk reduction plans especially in areas prone to floods and landslides.

Twelve barangays in Loboc were given a high rating of flooding susceptibility while nine barangays were considered “moderate” in flooding and fourteen barangays vulnerable to landslides, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7.

Also vulnerable to landslides are five barangays in Anda, 4 in Loon and Buenavista, three barangays in Garcia Hernandez, Duero and Jagna, two in Calape and Guindulman and one each in Inabanga, Carmen, San Miguel, Danao, Sierra Bullones, Candijay and Alicia.

A La Nina watch has been raised by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) to prepare for another “extreme weather event”. (Chito M. Visarra with reports from Rey Tutas)