TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, July 31 (PIA): Typhoon Pablo-hit Local Government Units (LGUs) have realized the serious need to strengthen their preparedness for disaster and to adapt to extreme weather conditions to survive.
At the close of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Summit held in Tagum City in Davao del Norte, local chief executives of Typhoon Pablo-hit provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley and selected municipal and barangay governments shared life changing lessons learned from super typhoon Pablo experience. They all shared the realization to prepare even better.
Davao Oriental Provincial Gov. Corazon Malanyaon acknowledged “preparedness” as necessary to survival.
“Climate change is real. Hence, preparedness to disaster, calamity and extreme weather conditions is a must and the need to adapt to this change is necessary for survival,” she said in giving learning experience before participants of the Regional DRRM Summit held at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan ng Davao del Norte.
Malanyaon also viewed changes to lifestyle as requisite to readiness to disaster as she asked people to be more receptive to warnings and signals “of impending event that might affect the lives, security and property of the community.”
Citing the front location of Davao Oriental to the Pacific Ocean, she further called for a change in attitude among her constituents whom she wanted to build a more resilient community of people who possess moral and spiritual strength.
“Resilience to calamity lies not only on physical preparedness but also on moral and spiritual strength. If the affected people are willing to help themselves, support shall come and calamity can be surmounted,” she pointed out.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of Compostela Valley Governor Arturo T. Uy, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) executive officer Raul Villoceno admitted the need for the province to strengthen its disaster preparedness and response capability.
Villoceno pointed out the need to reduce vulnerability and exposure of communities to all hazards by relocating families to safer locations and mitigating the impact of future disasters through dredging river banks.
He saw the need to increase the level of awareness of the community to the threats and impacts of hazards, risks and vulnerabilities.
Along this line, the provincial government of Compostela Valley hatched the plan to train and organize a team of facilitators to conduct disaster risk reduction management at the community level in all barangays.
Preparedness has to go down to the community level so folks would come to understand and realize the risks that they are confronting “and decide what they can do to minimize the impact of disasters” he said.
To better prepare the communities, Villoceno said setting up early warning system, identifying evacuation sites, formulating disaster preparedness and response plan, conducting micro mitigation activities, doing drills and simulation exercises, and organizing first responders at the community level are necessary measures. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)
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