Talisay dad mulls creation of disaster body

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Edward Alesna sponsored a legislative measure that will create the city’s own disaster risk reduction and management office.

The proposed ordinance of Alesna, the chairman of the committee on ways and means, will be discussed in today's council session.

According to Alesna, the creation of DRRMO is necessary as it upholds and promotes in the formulation of policies and plans and the implementation of actions and measures pertaining to disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery, especially during disaster operations.

In a proposed ordinance No. 2014 – 23 – 2, Alesna said there shall be established a Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office in every province, city, and municipality, and a Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in every barangay.

This is derived from the Joint Memorandum Circular 2014-1, signed by the Civil Service Commission, Department of Budget and Management, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, which reinforces Section 12 of Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010.

The circular is being made as the basis to direct local government units in the region to establish their own LDRRMO or BDRRMC in their respective areas of responsibilities in an effort to build disaster resilient communities.

The LDRRMO or BDRRMC shall be under the office of the governor, city or municipal mayor, and the punong barangay (village chieftain) in the case of the BDRRMC, Alesna said.

Alesna pointed out that Section 6 of Rule 6 of RA 10121 IRR provides that local sanggunians shall enact the appropriate ordinance to create the disaster risk reduction management office to include the allocation of necessary structure and staffing and budget.

The organization and composition of the City of Talisay Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management will be composed of a Local DRRM Officer to be assisted by three staff responsible for - administration and training; research and planning; and operations and warning.

The city mayor shall be the appointing authority of the foregoing positions and the subject employees shall be under full supervision and control of the chief executive.

Alesna's ordinance was also co-authored by Councilor Socrates C. Fernandez, Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, Councilor Doroteo S. Emit and Councilor Antonio D. Bacaltos, Jr.