Officials of the 40 barangays in Bacolod City considered prone to flooding and other officials of city departments and offices directly involved in disaster management are undergoing a 3-day community-based risk reduction management training provided by the Bacolod City government in partnership with Corporate Network for Disaster Response and SMART Telecommunications.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said this is part of the city’s thrust to give disaster preparedness the attention it requires.

The training that started yesterday at the L’Fisher Hotel, is aimed at formalizing the structure of the City and Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils based on R.A. 10121, or the newly approved law on Disaster Risk Management.

The barangays involved are Banago, Mandalagan, Bata, Villamonte, Estefania, Felisa, Handumanan, Mansilingan, Alijis, Taculing, Singcang-Airport, Tangub, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Sum-ag, and barangays 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 , 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19,27, 28, 29, 31, 35, 36, 39, 40 and 41.

“What is happening all over the world is telling us that we can expect disasters to happen anytime. We cannot stop the forces of nature, neither can we run away from it, and the only thing to do is to be prepared for any eventuality,” Leonardia said.

BRGY. CAPTAINS’ ROLE

He also said the most effective disaster plan should involve the barangay captains, since they are supposed to be the first responders.

He said Bacolod City is grateful that CNDR and SMART responded favorably to the request of Councilors Em Ang and Caesar Distrito for that grassroots officials to be given appropriate training in disaster preparedness and response.

Leonardia said Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson is committed to pursue its implementation, while Bacolod City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo De La Paz and City Fire Marshal Pamela Candido will make sure that their area of responsibility are taken care of in case calamity strikes.

Distrito said Bacolod has already organized its City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and the barangays are expected to do the same.

WARNING SYSTEMS, EVACUATION

Cedric Daep, CNDR consultant and head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Albay, said they will teach barangays about early warning systems for flood, real time warning, communication protocol and evacuation procedures.

He said they will also define the partnership or teamwork between the city, the barangays and the community so they will have a delineating responsibility while complementing each other.

Daep also said the media is a tool for “zero casualty” in terms of disseminating advisories from the city about warnings and evacuations, while the print media, if well circulated, can draw support from the national and international community.

Ang said they recognize that disaster mitigation and preparedness is top priority and the training is part of the initiative of the CDRRMC. She said they have also lined up a series of seminars and trainings for the barangays and other stakeholders this year.

Also present were Councilor Al Victor Espino, City Department of Social Welfare and Development head Sally Abelarde, Public Employment Service Office head Moises De La Cruz, De la Paz and Candido.

CNDR, SMART SUPPORT

The CNDR, which has been actively involved in disaster preparedness and response for the last ten years, providing training and support to local government units and other institutions, is represented by executive director Hilda Cleofe, Mabel Apostol and Kae Vicedo, while SMART is represented by the supervisor of its VisMin Public Affairs Group.

Navarro said SMART’s support to the Bacolod training is through social corporate responsibility program called Kabalikat sa Kaligtasan that began in 1998.*CGS

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