‘Committed’ people needed in disaster response efforts

While Cebu has been taking effort in intensifying disaster preparedness in local government units, lack of permanent staff in respective Disaster Risk Reduction and Management offices remains a challenge.

Cebu Provincial DRRM Officer Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. disclosed this concern in one of the local DRRM officers’ (LDRRMOs) conferences at the Capitol.

Currently, most towns and cities in Cebu Province only have designated or newly- appointed officers taking charge of the operation of their DRRM offices, according to the Provincial Information Office.

“We really need people who are committed,” said Tribunalo.

To address the concern, he said, there is a need for discussion with the municipal or town mayors on the strict implementation of the DRRM law.

The establishment of LDRRMO and Barangay DRRM Council, which are responsible for setting the implementation and coordination of disaster risk management programs within their territorial juris- diction, is mandated under Republic Act 10121 (PDRRM Act of 2010).

The law provides four mandatory positions that compose the LDRRMO, including a DRRM officer who will be assisted by three staff responsible for administration and training, research and planning, and operations and warning.

PDRRMO has been convening LDRRMOs and volunteer groups of rescuers and responders in the province through the conferences which have become a venue of sharing of best practices and streamline efforts for a better disaster risk management.

Tribunalo said that the conferences would greatly help in establishing LDRRM offices in all towns and cities in Cebu as all provincial efforts and accomplishments could cascade down to the local level.

To help LGUs in their effort in disaster management, PDRRMO assured to provide the necessary training-workshops and capacity-building to LGUs in the province.

Dennis Chong, head of trainings and workshops, shared that only 28 towns have yet to undergo the training provided by the PDRRMO.

Trainings include basic workshop in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation ( DRR- CCA), search and rescue operations in water, mountains and others.

PDRRMO also conducted specialized trainings in water safety in Tudela, lifeguarding in San Francisco and wilderness first-aid in Argao.

He shared that by June of this year, PDRRMO has completed the conduct of the basic DRR- CCA trainings for all towns and cities in the province.

Chong also said that a monitoring team will be fielded to these towns and cities to evaluate on the application of the things that they have been trained for.