The Disaster Preparedness (DP) Committee of the Regional Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) – Region 13 (Caraga) chaired by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) highly stressed in reminding LGUs to be on full force in disaster preparedness and readiness during its 1^st Quarter Disaster Preparedness Committee Meeting on March 24, 2017 at Prince Hotel, South Montilla Blvd., Butuan City.

 

Mr. Donald A. Seronay, OIC-ARD of DILG emphasized that preparedness saves lives and mitigate damage to assets, which calls for the need of LGUs to comply with the disaster preparedness minimum standards set forth by the Department.

Having faced with several disasters starting early this January, from the Tail-End of the Cold Front (TECF), Low Pressure Area (LPA) and heavy rains which caused flooding in the areas of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Butuan City aggravated by the earthquake in the province of Surigao del Norte, the Department is pushing every LGU to comply with the minimum standards of disaster preparedness, observe the expedient utilization of the disaster funds, and follow strictly the Operation L!STO protocols.

As Vice Chair for Disaster Preparedness, the DILG takes the lead in ensuring that LGUs are fully equipped with the necessary skills and capability to face and survive hazards, as well as cope with the impact of disasters. Part of the meeting is the engagement of member agencies in Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Listong Pamayanan with the conduct of Community Drills by the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), Listong Pamilyang Pilipino by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the reproduction of disaster risk reduction / climate change materials for advocacy and information campaign by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

The meeting was attended by the Provincial and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (P/CDRRMOs), Local Resource Institutes (LRIs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and DP member agencies. (Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa, DILG 13)