Feature: The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Program of Molave

By Alma L. Tingcang  

Molave is a first class municipality with a population of 48,215 people.  It is the agro-industrial hub of the entire Salug Valley area  and the fastest growing municipality in the first district of Zamboanga del Sur.  

Likened to a tree with the same name – Molave, described as hard, strong and resilient aptly portrays the municipality that withstood numerous flashfloods which hit this progressive neighborhood.

Creation of the MDRRMC/LGU support

With the leadership of Mayor Ireneo Q. Glepa, the implementation of a proactive disaster risk reduction program was conceptualized based on   five pillars which prioritized disaster risk reduction; improving risk information and early warning; building a culture of safety and resiliency among vulnerable communities; reducing the risks of key sectors and lastly; timely and effective response mechanism.

“Our Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) Operation Center is very functional and we do our best to be effective and efficient. We have a responsible management system in order to address the needs of our constituents during actual calamities especially during flashfloods of which Molave is prone to,” Mayor Glepa quoted.

Funds for the Operation Center come from the 70% calamity fund allocation of the LGU.

Disaster preparedness and response programs

Molave has 9 barangays which are flood-prone: Maloloy-on, Culo, Madasigon, Makugihon, Blancia, Dipolo, Sudlon, Meliga and Rizal.

Jerry Gene Delos Santos, head of the Operation Center said the creation of the Molave Emergency Response Team (MERT) was necessary to pool manpower who will answer the call during emergency situations. Capacity building activities were conducted to teach them First Aid, Basic Life Support and CPR, Water Search and rescue, Rubber Boat Handling and Bomb Detection in partnership with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Earthquake drills in different schools as well as monthly water search and rescue exercises are done regularly. Rescue operations are not limited only during flooding incidents but also in cases of fire, vehicular and other accidents.

It can be recalled that during the Tapatan sa DILG which was held in Zamboanga City on June 19, 2012, Mayor Glepa presented the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program of the municipality in the presence of  then DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, citing Molave as an ideal DRRMC and recognizing its laudable efforts in disaster preparedness.

OCD Regional Director Adriano Fuego also lauded Molave for its best practices in disaster risk reduction program implementation.

Community Involvement

With the collaborative effort and support of the MDRRMC, local officials, NGOs, POs and our constituents work together towards disaster risk mitigation, an endeavor which is in consonance with the undertaking made by the provincial and national government.

Mayor Glepa said, “I would like to recognize the efforts of the Emergency Response Teams (ERT) both the municipal and barangay Teams who have been instrumental for the immediate and appropriate action taken during actual calamities in our locality.”

The Molave Emergency Response Team (MERT) is composed of 32 volunteer/members from different barangays which is divided into teams. The group has chosen Mr. Allan Gary Villarante as their president and they are on the job 24/7, with duty shifting every four hours.

Early Warning System

Early warning devices and equipments such as the automated weather station, automated rain gauge and river level gauge have been installed to monitor water level.

Another powerful tool of the operation center is the 300 watt-FM Station, DXMR  which gives advisory during floods where all radios are tuned in for updates and other important announcements.

Molave has also embarked on tree-planting activities and established the municipal forest nursery as a long term solution to flooding and to mitigate the effects of climate change.

“We may not be fully equipped to combat disaster but response mechanisms are in place to prevent the loss of lives and damage to property, which is a laudable collaborative effort of all sectors of the community. Together, we can weather all storms of life,” Mayor Glepa concluded.  (ALT/PIA9-Zambo Sur)