DavNor strengthens incident command system

DAVAO DEL NORTE, October 30, 2013 (PIA) – Focal persons of Capitol departments involved in the disaster response committee underwent a 3-day training on the incident command system (ICS) in order to beef up the capability of the province to better respond to emergencies.

Reduce ‘D Risk responders, staff of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Operation Center, as well as, representatives from the Provincial Health Office, Provincial Social Welfare & Development Office, Provincial Engineer’s Office and Provincial Information Office attended the event.

ICS is a strategy for superior management of multi-agency responses to emergencies to prevent chaos during emergencies.

The participants gained better understanding of the ICS as a vital tool for effective disaster response in the province. 

Romulo Tagalo, Executive Director of the joint Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management (PDRRM/Climate Change Adaptation (PDRRM-CCA) Councils said that the activity is in pursuit of Republic Act 10121 of 2010, which seeks to provide effective framework and establish an action plan with strategic and systematic approaches to reduce the vulnerabilities and risks to damages during calamities.

Tagalo, who is also the OIC-Provincial Information Officer, added the law mandated the government agencies and local government units to establish their own ICS as part of the country’s on-scene disaster response system to ensure the effective management of emergency responses.

“Let us support the vision of the Governor Rodolfo del Rosario by managing an effective ICS in the province to prevent or minimize loss of lives, or damage to properties and the environment during calamities,” he said.

In line with his human-centered development thrust known as P.E.O.P.L.E., Del Rosario fused the PDRRM and CCA councils of the province with the aim of hastening the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into the development and poverty reduction policies and programs of the province.

The governor explained the paradigm shift in local governance is geared towards developing a safer, adaptive and disaster-resilient Dabaonon communities in attaining sustainable development.(Nice Tolibas/PIO DavNor)