BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, September 17 (PIA) --- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD-7) and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC-7) held a 3-day Regional Contingency Plan Formulation Workshop recently to prepare and harmonize respective roles of agencies in times of emergencies and disasters.
RDRRMC-7 chairperson and OCD-7 regional director Olivia Luces said the formulation of a Contingency Plan can better prepare member agencies to address an emergency and its potential humanitarian impact.
Luces said a ConPlan is a management tool that involves decision making in advance with an awareness of a range for technical, logistical support and response taking into consideration the resources, those accountable, communication plan and emergency equipment.
Under RA 10121 or an Act Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System of 2010, outlined four thematic areas are given priority namely disaster prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness, disaster response and rehabilitation and recovery.
“But one-half of our efforts must be geared towards disaster prevention and mitigation,” said Luces.
Luces said it is very important to have a contingency plan “as most local government units that were hit by super typhoon Yolanda did not have a contingency plan.”
The RDRRMC-7 chair also said LGUs should also allot the five percent of revenues locally generated to disaster-related activities of which 70 percent of the five percent should be on disaster prevention and mitigation.
Other events a ConPlan should be considered included sudden increase of displaced population, outbreak of an epidemic and terrorism.
OCD-7 consultant and previous OCD-9 director Adrian Fuego in the same activity said a ConPlan puts emphasis on disaster risk reduction and management and predicts where the disaster may possibly strike and to prevent the effects and reduce its impact.
“Ultimately, the formulation of a ConPlan is to save lives and properties,” Fuego said. (mbcn/FCR/PIA7)