DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Inform, train more people, gov’t urged

Local government units is encouraged to still become more involved in disaster risk management.
(CDN FILE)

The government should intensify its information campaign on disaster preparedness to educate more people to become more proactive to respond to calamities affecting our country.

Dennis Cortes, head of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRMO) Operations, gave this advice in a press briefing earlier in the week.

“If we look back on our experiences, the Philippines has only been reactive,” he said referring to the local government units action during calamities.

He said this is the reason the province is continuously strengthening the existing local disaster risk reduction and management offices and educating their communities about disaster preparedness.

There are only 40 to 60 percent of the total number of local government units in the province with an active or functioning disaster management office.

Cortes said the province also provides trainings to cities and municipalities and even those in the barangay level if these barangays request for their trainings.
The trainings include learning about the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act and how to use the calamity fund.

Since part of disaster risk reduction and management is climate change adaptation, Cortes said, component towns and cities will have to activate its own Local Climate Change Action Plan.
This includes risk assessments of their areas.

“They need to have assessments of their own because they have risks unique to their situation. What the province does is to help them discover these risks and the capabilities needed to address them,” said Cortes.

The province also plans to hold a planning workshop within the year where at least seven representatives from each local disaster office will attend.

Related Stories:

Use ‘purok’ system in disaster response

Davide retains 19 of 24 consultants; uncle to stay on