Philippines: NDRRMC official reiterates importance of preparedness
PIA press release by Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.
Iloilo City – Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Benito T. Ramos reiterated the importance of preparedness among communities during natural disasters and other emergency situations.
Ramos was the guest of honor at the regional consultation workshop on the formulation of guidelines for the accreditation, mobilization and protection of disaster volunteers conducted by the Western Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) held here recently.
Sharing his experiences from his work during the occurrence of natural disasters in the country, Ramos stressed that all actions being done during emergencies should be properly coordinated and executed for the safety of those who are affected.
He also commended the initiatives of the council in the region especially in terms of contingencies that it is putting in place as part of disaster preparedness and management.
The council proposed sets of guidelines as its inputs to the national guidelines that will be adopted by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for the proper selection and welfare of disaster volunteers.
The guidelines are mandated by the country’s disaster risk reduction and management law, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 10121.
OCD Regional Director and RDRRMC chairperson Rosario T. Cabrera said they will form a technical working group within the regional council that will put the finishing touches on the regional proposals before they would be submitted to the NDRRMC.
Also present during the activity were DILG Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta, PIA Regional Director Ma. Janet C. Mesa and Workshop facilitator was Raul Garganera of the Philippine Red Cross, together with representatives of member agencies of the RDRRMC.
A day before the workshop, Ramos met with the Communications and Warning Group of the regional council to look into the contingency measures adopted by the group as part of the regional disaster management plan. (JCM/JSC/PIA6)