BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, April 2 (PIA) -- With
the two major disasters that struck Central Visayas late last year, local
government units (LGUs) urgently need to get their acts together by
implementing proactive measures to reduce the impact of disasters by focusing
on four thematic areas.
Flor Gaviola, assistant regional
director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-7) told local chief executives,
provincial, city and municipal disaster risk reduction officers and other
stakeholders within Central Visayas attending the two-day seminar roadshow on
‘Iba na ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities’ that prevention and
mitigation is always the first step in disaster risk reduction planning.
Gaviola cited the four thematic areas
as outlined under the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management System to
guide LGUs on the step-by-step measure in strengthening their disaster risk
reduction action plan.
“The four thematic areas are prevention
and mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation and recovery,” said
Gaviola. When LGUs can enumerate what actions will be taken under each thematic
area, this can eventually lead to safer, adaptive and resilient communities,
said Gaviola.
“The development of alarms and early
warning signal is always the first step under prevention and mitigation,”
further said Gaviola. She added that LGUs also need to focus on the use of
nationwide flood forecasting and monitoring and the geo-hazard mapping,
comprehensive land use plan, engineering interventions and flood control
structures.
In terms of preparedness, Gaviola said
LGUs must have the following --- contingency planning, prepositioning the
equipment and supplies, enhancement of operation and coordination centers,
organizing training of responders, organizing and mobilizing community volunteers,
conduct of disaster trainings and drills.
For response, LGUs should already
know what to do in the aftermath of a disaster particularly on search, rescue
and retrieval operations, bared Gaviola. Local governments should also take
note of humanitarian aid, relief and health services as well as provision for
temporary shelter, she said.
Under recovery and rehabilitation, LGUS
should incorporate in their disaster risk reduction plan on how to achieve
early recovery and rehabilitation of ravaged communities including the
reconstruction of damaged houses and buildings, resettlement of displaced
families and provision of livelihood to affected individuals, disclosed the
OCD-7 official.
Gaviola however said that among the
challenges faced by the LGUs include the rationalization of multi-hazard map
scales, appreciation of risk factors in the local level and strict adherence to
the building code.
Governance, accountability and
resources are also essential factors to be taken into account, said Gaviola.
“But a major challenge lies in the whole of society participation
including volunteerism,” ended Gaviola.
The activity which ended today was organized by the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST-7) in partnership with the Department of Interior
and Local Government 7 and the Office of Civil Defense 7. (mbcn/PIA-7)