Institutionalization of disaster plan, framework eyed

CEBU, Philippines - To strengthen disaster resiliency among the 51 towns and component cities of Cebu, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is planning to institutionalize a disaster contingency plan and framework.

PDRRMO spokesman Julius Regner said the province would produce contingency plan, local disaster risk reduction and management plan and local climate change action plan that would be distributed to all local government units in Cebu.

“These will serve as their guide in disaster operations and preparedness. We want to have a uniform and standard disaster plans because currently every local government unit is using either the Office of the Civil Defense's, Department of Interior and Local Government's or other government agencies' disaster plans, ” he said.

Regner said the LGUs can use the disaster plans for up to five years. The plans can also be used as basis in crafting disaster budgets and in planning for economic development.

He said the data needed for the plans are still being collated and studied by non-profit organization Berkman International Inc., Certeza Infosys Corp, and A2D Project-Research Group (Alternative to Development Inc.)

The province, through Governor Hilario Davide III, entered into a joint venture agreement with the said groups last year to establish comprehensive disaster plans for Cebu.

A2D specializes in research and development intervention projects in southern Philippines. It has done emergency response and rehabilitation works in northern Cebu after super typhoon Yolanda ravaged the province in 2013.

The joint venture involves consultancy service to mainstream disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation throughout Cebu. The project will be done in three phases.

The first phase, which costs the Capitol P24 million and would run for seven month, would cover the 51 towns and component cities, with each LGU allotted close to P500,000. It would culminate in June.

The second phase, which would cost P15 million, would depend mainly on the outcome of the first phase. At this stage, the consultancy group would also assist LGUs in crafting their comprehensive land use plans, which are mostly expired or unrevised.

PDRRMO Chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. earlier said the Capitol wants to mainstream disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in local governments through the creation of disaster and contingency plans for LGUs.

He said the consultants would be tasked to conduct a comprehensive study, training and workshop, as well as draft a contingency plan.

Tribunalo said they tapped the expertise of private partners because PDRRMO lacks manpower. —/ RHM (FREEMAN)