Philippines: Barangay officials meet to discuss CBDRRM

Pagadian City - The Office of Civil Defense (OCD-IX) in coordination with the local government of unit of Pagadian City is now conducting a three-day seminar/workshop on Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction Management (CBDRRM) at the Liga City Convention Center from September 2-4, 2010.

OCD Regional Director Adriano B. Fuego, said the participants to the seminar are all barangay chairmen, barangay council member (committee chair on disaster management and barangay secretaries in this city were invited. He said, the barangays are the first line of defense against any disaster (natural or man-made) that may occur in a certain place.

The activity aims to strengthen and equip our people in the barangays to effectively respond in times of disasters. The participants will also prepare their respective work and financial plan based on their 5% calamity fund and to identify their needs, Fuego said.

With the new law, the RA-10121 known as the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act Fuego said, we can use our calamity funds not only for response purposes but it can be utilized for trainings, purchase of equipments for rescue operations and even stock filing or resources.

According to Dir. Fuego, 70% of the calamity fund can be used in the preparation activities while the remaining 30% for quick response during the occurrence of the disaster.

Under the said law Fuego said, all local government units from the Provincial, City and Municipal down to the barangay level are mandated to establish a local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office. The DRRMO will automatically act as the permanent secretariat in disaster councils, Fuego added. (pia9/zds/cal)