TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, July 14 (PIA)—Adjacent
provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostela have stepped up efforts to
strengthen their respective disaster risk reduction and management.
Guesting yesterday at Tagum Biz Talk at Big 8, Davao del Norte
Climate Change Advocacy-Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Division (CCA-PDRRMD) Executive Director Romulo Tagalo, Compostela Valley
PDRRM Executive Officer Raul Villocino and Provincial Alliance of Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Officers (PADIRRMO) President Gaspar Balinggao revealed
on-going and undertaken initiatives.
Tagalo highlighted in his discussion the Oplan-ANDAM (Advocacy on
Natural Disaster and Management) which, he said, addresses gaps in public
understanding of information related to risks that could lead to
disaster.
He cited study findings pointing out the lack of utilization of
information research products and other academic outputs regarding risks, and
the limited understanding and usage of technical terms and concepts on risk
including that which relates to hazard maps.
“With Oplan ANDAM we see to it that we just don’t give
information. We use the schools as democratic spaces so these
information can really be understood by the ordinary people,” he said.
He also said that the Oplan ANDAM touches base with people
and students in schools and those at the purok level to facilitate
interaction with the common folks and the technical experts on risk
reduction and management.
“We may not have sophisticated equipment just like the
U.S. (United States) but if we have resilient people: people
who know what to do, when to do it; we can be sure of zero casualty,” he
said.
Meanwhile, Villocino said that the provincial government
of Compostela Valley through the PDRRMO had already conducted a series of
training to capacitate the municipal disaster risk reduction and
management offices (MDRRMOs).
The PDRRMO of Compostela Valley has also partnered with international
non-government organizations (NGOs) on disaster response and rescue to conduct
trainings involving MLGUs and even the barangay LGUs.
“In the whole year, we will be conducting series of
trainings to capacitate the front-liners,” he said.
He revealed that Compostela Valley had yet to come up with
initiatives on massive barangay level awareness-raising on disaster risks but
he said his office had trained people at the LGU level on crafting of hazard
maps which were explained to the people at respective LGUs.
His office also produces in vernacular IEC materials on disaster
preparedness and distributes these to elementary and secondary schools, to
barangays and day care centers.
“We have enhanced the knowledge of people in communities
about the hazards in the province,” he said.
On the other hand, Davao del Norte has bound together the local
DRRM executive officers and created the Provincial Alliance of Disaster
Risk Reduction Management Officers (PADIRRMO) to “fast-track the sharing of experiences
of all action officers.”
Newly installed PADIRRMO President Gaspar Balinggao, during the
same forum, said the PADIRRMO is also expected to assist in locally
implementing policies and circulars related to climate change and disaster risk
reduction.
During the oath-taking of officers on July 6, the provincial
government of Davao del Norte with PADIRRMO also launched the “DavNor Rescue”
which, Balinggao said, “is a robust rescue organization to respond to
calamities within Davao del Norte”.
“This is in line with the mission to build disaster-resilient
communities,” he said while explaining that the DavNor Rescue also
involves barangay-based rescuers who can be tapped to form part of a rescue
contingent. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)
No comments:
Post a Comment