City gov’t capacity beefed up vs disaster

By Gideon C. Corgue  

PAGADIAN CITY – The establishment of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRMMC) and the existence of Barangay Response Emergency Team (BERT) is a great help in responding to natural and man-made calamities.

Thus declared Mayor Romeo Pulmones during the city government’s commemorative program marking the 37^th anniversary of earthquake and tsunami which wrecked havoc in this city in August 1976.

The commemorative program was held last Aug. 16, at F.S. Pajares Avenue corner Warlito Pulmones Street, Santiago District here.

Pulmones recalled that on August 17, 1976 at 12:11a.m., where he was then a 10-year old boy, a violent earthquake which had spawned tsunami occurred in the city leaving thousands dead and massive damage to properties along coastal barangays.

Pulmones said his administration would give priority in the implementation of the provisions of Republic Act 10121 otherwise known as “An act strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management System” by establishing CDRRMO and providing personnel therefor.

Pulmones said the city government is now strengthening its capacity to mitigate, prepare, respond and recover from the impact of disasters saying “that disasters are real and could happen anytime and anywhere.”

CDRRMO action officer Haron Damada said the chief executive established the CDRRMO on May 24, 2013, and subsequently assigned 20 personnel to man the office.

Pulmones thanked Governor Antonio Cerilles for supporting the CDRMMC by conducting extensive training on BERT members providing with the knowledge and skills for effective disaster management.

“I thanked Governor Cerilles for actively supporting the CDRMMC by training BERT members at the provincial government center in barangay Dao,” Pulmones said adding that “they are the first responders during disasters.”  

Damada said the city has a total of 1,669 trained BERT members following the establishment of the CDRRMC. (PIA9)