Pagadian City, April 18 (PIA) -- In an effort to provide assistance and continuously upgrade programs and skills for public service, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) IX has recently conducted an Orientation Program on Inter-Agency Relations on Disaster Preparedness primarily aimed to enhance, to inform and to enlighten its Disaster Risk Reduction Management Team members from different field offices.
The program facilitated by the DPWH IX Administrative Division’s training staff was attended by 68 participants coming from the regional and district engineering offices who learned how to handle and respond to unexpected and unforeseen events that adversely affect people and resources. They were also taught how to develop and implement mitigation plans to minimize the loss of lives and properties when these calamities occur.
DPWH invited resource speakers from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA), Philippine Institute on Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), and the Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB) who shared relevant information and expertise in relation to disaster preparedness.
DPWH Region IX Assistant Regional Director Nenita Robles emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness due to the looming natural calamities and climate change that is being experienced by the country. “It is important that we, as government institution, take our part in knowing our duties and responsibilities to the general public with regards to disaster preparedness”, ARD Robles added.
Chief Meteorologist Maribel Hasanah Enriquez explained how weather and climate affect the lives of every individual and community in Region IX. She mentioned the importance of information dissemination in order to make the public and concerned institutions aware and prepare them in times of disasters and calamities.
Phivolcs-Zamboanga Officer-in-Charge Allan Rommel Labayog shared some significant knowledge on the nature of earthquakes and tsunamis posing danger and threats to the region. Since earthquakes cannot be predicted by any means, he challenged the DPWH engineers to construct quality infrastructure to endure such calamities.
Meanwhile, MGB OIC-Geosciences Division Vheina Marie Quintana and Senior Geologist Mustansir Manjoorsa explained thoroughly the relevant topographical nature of Zamboanga Peninsula such as landslide prone areas; soil & rock composition of different cities and municipalities including barangays; and other geological factors which are found to be very essential in going about existing and future projects of the DPWH.
