Local disaster management councils up for an award

BANGUED, Abra -- Three of the 27 MDRRMC have passed Level 1 assessment in the nationwide search for the Seal of Disaster Preparedness Award to be given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG-Abra Provincial Director Cresencio Calina identified three Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils that passed the assessment as Bangued, Sallapadan and Lagangilang.

The local government units (LGUs) are assessed on the following criteria: leadership structure and guide to actionc operational readiness or the minimum test of readiness immediately before a calamity, and innovative practice or culture bound or indigenous knowledge practice on disaster preparedness.

The MDRRMCs have to prove their disaster preparedness in terms of technical competency which is primarily the presence of their own Emergency Response Teams who have been trained for emergency response and who are equipped with the life support tools and materials.

Aside from the competence of the MDRRMCs to provide emergency response to victims of calamities, another aspect that is monitored in terms of the level of competence is community awareness where the general public is involved and the presence of contingency planning and local policies covering early warning system, evacuation alert system, stockpiling of food and non-food items for emergencies, including available volunteers in times of emergency operations.

The search for SDP was launched in the region by the DILG at the Supreme Hotel in Baguio City last July 16 on the occasion of the Tapatan on Disaster Preparedness and LGU Recognition Day in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region. (Maritess B. Beñas)