by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao
ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 19 (PIA) – Local Government chiefs, representatives, and national line agency heads from all over Zamboanga Peninsula converge in the city today as the Department of Interior and Local Government 9 hosts Tapatan on Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation.
The one-day forum which aims to assist local government units in coming up with Local Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plans was spearheaded by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.
DILG invited speakers from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs), both under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), to discuss on disaster management and climate change adaptation, and laws concerning it as mandated by Republic Act 10121.
The activity is also a show of commitment and support by the local government units to come up with their own Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change adaptation plans.
OCD 9 Regional Director Adriano Fuego encouraged the participants to put emphasis on DRR plans saying.
“We now have all the resources to implement each and every Disaster Risk Reduction Plan as mandated and supported by RA 10121, from disaster preparedness, response and mitigation strategies, and finally rehabilitation”, Dir. Fuego said.
DILG 9 Director Paisal Abutazil earlier also urged LGUs to participate in this endeavor to avoid or lessen disaster impact.
“We encourage all LGUs in Region 9 to actively take part in this activity because we very well know the extent of damages these disasters can cause to lives and properties”, Abutazil said.
One of the activity’s highlights is the awarding of the Performance Challenge Fund checks to LGUs who passed the “Seal of Good Housekeeping” by Sec. Robredo.
“We are giving this award to our LGUs who have passed the criteria of the Seal of Good Housekeeping, making sure that they are prepared during calamities and disasters”, Sec. Robredo said.
Sec. Robredo will be awarding P7 M to the Provincial Government of Zamboanga Sibugay, with P1 M to be given each to the municipalities of Titay, Diplahan, Isya, Tungawan, Buug, and Ipil.
Other LGUs who are qualified for the PCF subsidy for development projects are the municipalities of Manuel Roxas, Polanco, and Sergio Osmeña of Zamboanga del Norte, and Aurora, and Dumingag of Zamboanga del Sur. (MVC/PIA9-ZBST)