DND beefs up disaster response capabilities: Lorenzana

MANILA – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that aside from defending the country from external and internal security threats, his department is also focusing on improving its humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities.

"To strengthen our humanitarian assistance and disaster response, the Office of Civil Defense, headed by Undersecretary (Ricardo) Jalad, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) have conducted a harmonized contingency planning for a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, and continues to organize quarterly national simultaneous earthquake drills as preparedness measure in the event of a strong earthquake that will affect Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon," Lorenzana said in a speech earlier this week.

He said the NDRRMC has also developed a training course for community responders to capacitate them with immediate and initial capabilities they would need during emergencies and disasters in their locality.

"Likewise, a new operations center was established and is now interconnected with the regional disaster risk reduction and management centers, thus leading to faster and efficient decision making and timely information dissemination," Lorenzana said.

An average of 20 typhoons and other natural calamities, such as flooding and earthquakes, strike the Philippines every year. (PNA)