Philippines: people's roles key to rebuilding

In observance of the national disaster consciousness month, the province of Siquijor through the Office of the Civil Defense 7 has conducted workshop to all line agencies at the Salagdoong Beach Resort earlier this week.

Members of the Philippine National Police, local officials, health, agriculture and from the academic were among the participants of the workshop.

Among the modules discussed were the Philippine Disaster Management System, Legal Framework, NDCC System, NDSS 4-Point Plan & Action on Disaster Planning with Disaster Management Funding; Contingency Planning to the purpose: CP to the People, its Process and Format and the Practice.

Assistant Regional Director Welino Gubuan of the Office of the Civil Defense 7 was the facilitator/trainer of the workshop. He emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness in a certain locality in order to respond to any unprecedented events - either natural or man-made.

"To minimize disasters, community leaders have to be trained to implement activities and other measures for disaster reduction, including building up awareness and preparedness, and contingency and development planning", Gubuan said.

Gubuan showed data on natural disasters, citing that from 1994 to 2003, there were some 2.5 billion people affected worldwide wherein 38 precent of the natural hazard occurred in Asia.

He said that the Philippines is experiencing a host of twenty (20) tropical cyclones or typhoons every year and that we have 300 volcanoes, 22 of which are active.

He said that the province of Siquijor is not too far from the local fault line which is Guindulman, Bohol facing the towns of Enrique Villanueva and Maria.

Gubuan further cited that from the year 1970 to 2000, the Philippines incurred an average annual direct damage of Php 15 billion or US$ 300 million due to disasters both human-made or by nature.

He added that with the strong support of the local government, Larena for instance that created earlier and emergency response team and the plan of the provincial government to acquire speed boats for emergency, we can be assured of a ready response to any marine disaster or typhoon.

Gubuan also highlighted the accomplishments of the Defense Department through the years; among which are disaster response and relief and rehabilitation in 1970; disaster preparedness and response measures including relief and rehabilitation in 1980; disaster preparedness and response, disaster and development and the creation of international disaster natural disaster reduction (IDNDR) from 1990 to 2000; and natural disaster risk reduction from 2001 up to the present. (PIA/RA)