Personnel assigned to local government disaster preparedness and search and rescue operations should be given regular appointments to ensure continuity of service and shield them from partisan politics.
“Trained personnel are always disturbed by politics. I think it’s about time that we create a plantilla position for the rescuers to sustain the rescue service,” said Aldo Mayor, chief of public safety of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
His team is in Cebu to train 45 personnel from various departments of Lapu-Lapu City Hall on disaster risk reduction which covers firefighting and search and rescue operations.
Mayor spent 25 of his 36 years in government service in search and rescue and received training on risk reduction in Japan.
He said his team conducts trainings on disaster preparedness for the military and personnel of private companies.
Emergencies
Mayor said trained personnel in local government units (LGUs) are disbanded since their tenure is co-terminus with the local chief executive who appointed them.
He said the MMDA is also financing the disaster preparedness training programs for LGU personnel across the country to help them deal with calamities like floods and earthquakes.
After completing the 11-day training program, the Lapu-Lapu City Hall personnel will train an emergency response team in every barangay in Lapu-Lapu City.
Mayor said barangay emergency response teams should also conduct disaster preparedness trainings for its residents so they can better cope with emergencies such as preparing food good for three days and equipment like flashlights and matches.