CCDCC wants more staff

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City Disasters Coordinating Council has been a recipient twice of a national award for their excellence in disaster management and humanitarian assistance, but officers admit, they remain undermanned.

Amidst left and right reports of landslides and other disasters triggered by continuous rains in the past few days, CCDCC executive officer Alvin Santillana said they need more staff as they could do better if he has the necessary people working with him.

As of the moment, CCDCC only has five personnel after two of its secretaries resigned to shift careers. There are five disaster personnel as compared to other Local Government Units that have more than 20 up to 50 like Olongapo and Makati.

Santillana said that they have no problem in terms of rescue operations and emergency response as they have many volunteers to include the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, Basak-Pardo Emergency Rescue, the 51st Reserve Marines, City Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team, the Bureau of Fire Protection Special Rescue Unit and other entities ready to help at all times.

But he said that the problem usually arise during relief operations because of the absence of administrative officers that will do the necessary paper works.

He said that since they are in the government, it is given that a lot of paper works are needed before they can get moving.

For instance, when the CCDCC needs to distribute relief goods to victims of fire, cash to purchase relief materials will not be automatically available without pertinent documents that need to be produced.

Santillana said that as of the moment, he is doing all the paper works which at times causes delays in the operation.

"The delays in the transactions and operations are pulling us backwards. Yes, we can immediately operate but still we need documents for liquidation," Santillana. "My staffs are complete with trainings on disaster management and response but they still need leadership because their line of duty now is not really their expertise in the past," he said.

But it seems that qualified persons are hard to find especially in the areas of research and development, administrative functions and training and operation. (FREEMAN)