ILOILO CITY – The Regional Development Council (RDC) of
Region-IX passed a resolution during the 143rd RDC meeting on March
7, 2013 in Dipolog City supporting the move to pursue capacity building and
appreciation for the members of the Council members on disaster risk reduction
and climate change.
The resolution is realized with 26 RDC members from the
Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen) coming to Iloilo City to attend the 2-day
executive briefing on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) on April
18-19.
Speakers who are experts on DRRM were on hand to share
invaluable information and inputs to disaster preparedness.
Risk profile and state of DRRM in the Philippines, hydro-met
hazards and project Noah, climate change adaptation, geo-hazards such as
earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, landslides and floods; building and
equipment emergency plan and earthquake drill, were among the topics lined-up
for the RDC-9 executives.
Apart from the briefings mentioned, RDC-9 vice chair and
NEDA-9 regional director Teresita Socorro C. Ramos said, this DRRM briefing is
brought to a notch higher as participants got the chance to hear the Iloilo
experience in DRRM and see Guimbal
municipality flood control and other DRR projects for appreciation in
leveling-up its planning and preparation for DRRM in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Dir. Adriano D. Fuego said Guimbal is known for its best
practice in DRRM and it is worthy to emulate features applicable to ZamPen.
During the briefings, Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering
shared with the group the importance of land use planning and climate change preparedness relative to
the growth and to our economy.
On the other hand, Engr. Oscar C. Tabada of the Philippine
Atmospheric Geo-Physical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said typhoons are not to be feared of; rather
the water and flood that come and bring disaster to communities having
insufficient mitigating measures.
Corollary to this, Dir. Renato Solidum, Jr. of the
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PhilVocs) who lectured on understanding natural hazards said, the
Philippines is the 3rd country most exposed to common hazards.
The participants were encouraged by the speakers to integrate
building code implementation with determination of vulnerability areas and equate it with exacting family and
community disaster preparedness.
The DRRM executive briefing is sponsored by RDC-9 and OCD-9
with NEDA-9 and the Region-6 counterparts of the participants. (PIA9)