TUGUEGARAO CITY — “Ligtas ang May Alam”, is the new mantra of fisherfolk in facing natural disasters along the Babuyan Channel corridor after attending the short talk on Understanding PAGASA Warning and a briefing on Climate of Region 2 and the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and La Nina Weather Phenomenon as part of the agenda of the Babuyan Channel Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council regular meeting on November 26-27, 2024.
Attended by fisherfolk leaders, representatives from the local government units facing the Babuyan Channel, Mr. Erick Carl S. Tappa, Weather Specialist and Mr. Noel G. Edillo, Weather Observer of the DOST-PAGASA were invited as resource speakers.
Recognizing the importance of understanding the weather disturbances and its devastating impacts both to lives and properties, the experts urged participants to stay updated and get information only from reliable sources in times of calamities.
Also, the weather experts reminded everyone that pre-emptive actions are essential to reduce risks and ensure safety of fisherfolk and their families.
Located in a typhoon belt area, the province of Cagayan is one of the most vulnerable areas against typhoons, heavy rainfall and flooding due to its topographical and geographic features.
The last quarter of the year the region was inundated by typhoons Julian, Kristine, Leon, Ofel and Marce that left great damages to properties and agri-fisheries crops.
Meanwhile, to ensure fast and immediate information dissemination, the council, and the two partner agencies agreed to explore other information sharing platforms in forewarning fishers before they set off to fish in the high seas if there are impending weather turbulences.
Said initiative will form part of the disaster risk management efforts of fishers and as a life-saving strategy.













