In his speech read by Assistant Secretary Raymond Liboro in “Iba na ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities”, Sec. Montejo emphasized the need for all stakeholders, especially the local government units (LGUs) to be more “disaster-imaginative”, meaning, to take into consideration the worst-case scenarios that may happen as a result of the disasters brought about by climate change in recent times.
“With ‘disaster-imagination’, we can think and act two steps ahead – early warning will trigger early actions,” Seccretary Montejo said. “We should now start a greater era of resiliency after the Yolanda episode.”
Montejo emphasized that we have the tools to further our disaster preparedness, and that we should make full use of its potential. “Let’s make use of science,” he urged.
“The LGUs are the first responders, and we need to develop your capacities and translate this to enhanced action,” the secretary told the more or less 300 representatives from Western Mindanao LGUs, including the mayors.
Meanwhile, Liboro shared that the following four points are essential in disaster risk reduction: increase local risk knowledge, hazards monitoring, test warning and communications protocols, build response capability in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and other stakeholders.