Barangay officials in Antique were encouraged to be proactive in assisting their constituents in times of disaster and in enhancing the readiness of their emergency operations centers.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) Officer Broderick Train, said Thursday that officials of 590 barangays in the province should open their facilities or infrastructures to serve as shelter for evacuees, provide other forms of assistance, or respond to queries from their constituents.

“Let us be proactive and not only reactive in times of disaster,” Train said during the PDRRM council meeting at the PDRRM office in San Jose de Buenavista.

Barangay officials should also be ready to implement preemptive evacuation when there is an impending flood or disaster due to weather disturbances.

“Let us give more emphasis to our DRR management,” Train said.

Meanwhile, he reminded evacuees to bring an initial food provision they can use while waiting for government aid.

“If they have some amount, they could also use it for their provision,” he said.

During the meeting, he reported that the southwest monsoon enhanced by tropical cyclone Crising damaged 190 houses in the municipalities of Hamtic and Laua-an.

A total of 5,025 families, or 15,288 individuals, in the province were also displaced.

The province also experienced heavy rainfall on Wednesday night, but all major roads are passable. (PNA)