La Union Governor Mario Eduardo C. Ortega said the province has largely recovered from recent typhoons and flooding, but warned that prolonged heavy rains, clogged waterways, high tides and improper garbage disposal continue to aggravate flooding in vulnerable areas.

In an interview with the Daily Tribune, Ortega said La Union had experienced nearly two weeks of rain, with the volume of water overwhelming some rivers, canals and drainage systems.

He noted that the province’s geographic location also contributes to the problem, as water flowing from higher areas eventually reaches La Union.

“We are the ones who are at the bottom, they are the ones who are at the top,” Ortega said, referring to La Union’s position downstream of areas in Benguet.

He said some areas, particularly Rimos 3, 4 and 5 in San Juan, are perennial flood-prone areas because of their low elevation and because water naturally collects there.

The situation becomes worse during high tide, Ortega said, as seawater can prevent floodwaters from flowing out quickly.

Despite this, he said most areas affected by flooding along major roads recover shortly after rainfall subsides, indicating that the province’s drainage systems are generally functioning.

“The sheer volume of water that falls at one time, our waterways and our canals will really be flooded,” Ortega said.

The governor described the recent flooding as primarily pluvial flooding, or flooding caused by intense rainfall that overwhelms waterways and drainage systems.

He said there were instances when floodwaters receded shortly after the rain stopped, which he said showed that the drainage infrastructure was working.

However, Ortega acknowledged that clogged waterways remain a problem in some areas.

“When we investigate, it’s clogged because of the garbage that people are throwing,” he said.

He said garbage accumulating in rivers and drainage channels can obstruct the flow of water and contribute to flooding.

Ortega appealed to residents to become more responsible in disposing of their waste, stressing that improper garbage disposal eventually affects the same communities where the waste is discarded.

Landslides cleared

Aside from flooding, Ortega said several landslides occurred in mountainous areas following the prolonged rainfall.

He described the incidents as expected in areas prone to landslides after nearly two weeks of heavy rain, but said most of the affected areas had already been cleared.

The provincial government deployed its available equipment, while private groups also lent equipment to assist in clearing operations.

Ortega said the cooperation between government agencies, private companies and individuals helped speed up the province’s response to the recent weather disturbances.

DPWH to assess Aringay riverbank damage

Ortega also addressed the damage to a riverbank revetment project in Aringay, La Union, where questions have been raised over whether the damage was caused by the recent weather conditions or problems involving the project.

The governor said it was not within his mandate to order a formal investigation into the project, noting that the Department of Public Works and Highways is in a better position to determine what caused the damage.

He said the DPWH would have access to the project’s technical specifications, contract conditions and warranty provisions.

“I would leave it at the DPWH,” Ortega said.

He added that the DPWH is expected to inspect nationally funded infrastructure following incidents involving damage.

“It does not follow that we are not going to look into it,” Ortega said.

However, Ortega cautioned against immediately assigning blame, saying a technical investigation should determine whether the damage was caused by extreme weather, construction-related issues or other factors.

“I do not want to jump to conclusions until all the facts are laid out,” he said.

Communication remains a priority

Ortega, who said he has been in public service for 38 years, said every major typhoon has provided the provincial government with lessons that could improve disaster preparedness and response.

One of the biggest lessons from previous typhoons, he said, was the need for alternative communication systems.

He recalled that during previous severe typhoons, the province had prepositioned equipment and relief goods in various areas but encountered difficulties communicating with personnel because telecommunications infrastructure had been damaged.

Cell sites lost power and some relied only on standby batteries, while others had generators but could not operate indefinitely.

“When you preposition your assets, you need to get in touch with them and they need to get in touch with you,” Ortega said.

He said authorities need reliable communication to assess conditions in affected communities and coordinate personnel and equipment deployed throughout the province.

For Ortega, disaster preparedness is not limited to building infrastructure.

“Sometimes, it’s not just infrastructure, it’s the attitude of the people,” he said, again pointing to improper garbage disposal as one issue that communities must address.

He said there is no single permanent solution to flooding because every disaster presents different circumstances that require authorities to identify the cause and respond accordingly.

‘La Union: Agkaysa!’

Ortega also praised the response of local government units, national government agencies, private organizations and individuals during the recent flooding and typhoons.

He said the cooperation reflects the province’s battle cry, “La Union: Agkaysa!”, which emphasizes unity and inclusivity.

“In these situations, you will see the unity of everyone to address a certain emergency in front of us,” Ortega said.

He expressed appreciation for the assistance extended by private individuals, corporations and other organizations, saying their participation strengthened the government’s disaster response.

Ortega urged residents to continue cooperating with authorities and to practice responsible waste disposal.

“Be more responsible in throwing our garbage because it will return to us,” he said.