Bacolod City is one of the top three contenders in the 2012 search for the Best Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils in the Philippines under the highly urbanized cities category, along with Makati and Legaspi cities.

Executive Assistant Joemarie Vargas said the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council is among the top ranking cities because of its rating of 96.05 percent in the regional level, based on R.A. 10121.

R.A. 10121 is an Act Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System.

Vargas said only those with a ratings of 85 percent and above can be included in the award, and Bacolod garnered 96.05 percent.

He said the national evaluators will arrive in Bacolod City on August 27 to verify the documentations they submitted and to look into their projects.

Vargas said the last time Bacolod received a national award in this category was in 2009 where it landed third place after Makati and Olongapo cities.

This year, the Office of the Civil Defense Region VI informed him that Bacolod is up against Makati and Legaspi cities, and that the result may be known in October, he said.

RISK REDUCTION

Vargas said that before, the evaluation was based on the response of a local government. This time, it is based on the risk reduction implementation by the city.

“Our flood control program is also part of the risk reduction system. That is why our rating went up,” he said.

In other words, in the Visayas and Mindanao, Bacolod is the only city included in the top three, he added.

The Bacolod Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is the winner in Region VI while Iloilo City’s government-operated response team is also in the top three in the response team category, Vargas said.

Vargas said Bacolod, Makati and Legaspi were selected by the OCD, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services, and the Philippine Information Agency.

The team of the NDRRMO is now in Bacolod to evaluate the group they have recommended for the response team category which is the Bacolod Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade. It is in the top three in the country in terms of rescue volunteers, he said.

The Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade is already a Hall of Famer after winning an award four or five times.

TASK FORCE, MEETINGS

On the other hand Bacolod City has formed a task force that will come up with a plan during a worst case scenario like a total black out where there will be no electricity, no water or communication.

Vargas said he met yesterday with the chiefs of hospital in Bacolod so they can come up with a plan on how to run the hospital in case there is no electricity, and how many patients they can accommodate.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Pablo O. Torre Medical Center, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Doctor’s Hospital, Bacolod Adventist Medical Center and Lady of Mercy Hospital.

He said they based the scenario in the case of the recent flood in Manila , where several hospitals like the Philippine General Hospital, could not operate.

Last Monday a meeting was also hold with the police, and all the police stations were tasked to come up with their own operation plan in case this scenario happens, he said.

The police will submit their operation plan on August 27 and that of the hospitals will follow before the month ends, he added.

Since the Bacolod City Water District is dependent on Central Negros Electric Cooperative for its power supply, Vargas also said it can only supply water to 40 percent of the total consuming public in Bacolod during a total blackout. However, BACIWA has required a portable generating set, he said.

TECHNICAL GROUP

A technical working group composed of representatives from CENECO, BACIWA, Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade, Bacolod Chamber Fire Brigade, Bacolod Bureau of Fire Protection and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office was also formed.

Their total plan will be submitted to the mayor and to the City Council, he said.

A meeting with all the AM radio station managers will also be held so that in case of a total blackout, they can provide information to the public in case there is no electricity, TV stations will be their second priority, he said.*CGS

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