Disaster management and Miss Baguio activities

NATURE has its own ways of letting itself known, often times in peaceful wonders, but most of the times, through its wrath. Since June of this year, typhoons came and left devastation in some portions of the country.

During one of the ICLEI forums, one of the speakers discussed that nature by its course really have such activities, typhoons, heavy rains, earthquakes, landslides, and other natural calamities at a in the course of the regular cycle of natural activities occur, however, what makes such natural activities as disaster are the presence of human lives at stake, where casualties are the result of lack of preparation for the inevitable.

In an effort to minimize the loss of property and most especially, loss of life, the national government formulated the National Risk Reduction and Management Council. This is likewise localized through the City Risk Reduction and Management Council, and localized further to the barangays, the BDRRMC.

Being the smallest unit of governance, the barangays usually have the first hand information of things that happen within their barangays, most especially during emergencies, calamities, and disasters. Councilor Joel Alangsab, Liga president, realizing the importance of the formulation of the BDRRMC within the barangays, reiterated that the barangays create their respective Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Councilor Alangsab expressed, “The barangay officials are usually the first to respond in a certain situation especially during calamities, even before the offices concerned are called upon or are informed, which is why it is important that the barangays create their BDRRMC. This facilitates in having a plan in cases of emergencies and disasters, but also provides coordination among the officials and with the other concerned government offices/agencies. We already called the attention of the barangays since June of 2011, for them to create their BDRRMC and to submit the same to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Office of the Civil Defense, City Administrators Office, Liga ng mga Barangay, and other concerned offices to facilitate faster responses during emergencies. It is however sad to note that to this date, there are still barangays that have not created their BDRRMC. But we are doing more effort to ensure that all the barangays will eventually create their BDRRMC and prepare their respective disaster plans as well as be able to develop well coordinated efforts with the concerned offices.”

The law creating the BDRRMC, Republic Act 10121 also calls for the creation of the BDRRMC to serve as the arm of the CDRRMC in the grassroots level in discharging the functions of the CDRRMC, and to provide for a well coordinated and unified effort between the city and the barangays in responding to disasters and emergencies.

Twenty lovely candidates were presented yesterday during the press conference for the 2012 Search for Miss Baguio. Councilor Alangsab, Liga president and chairman on the Committee for the Search for Miss Baguio encouraged the barangay officials to support their candidates and is likewise inviting the constituents to support and join the different events of the Charter Day Celebration.

The pre-pageant (Talent Search, Swimsuit Competition and Initial Interview) was held on August 20, 2012 (Monday) 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Hotel Supreme Convention Plaza (Diamond Grand Ballroom), Magsaysay Avenue, Baguio City. A city tour will be held on August 26, 2012 (Sunday) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The final judging and coronation night will be held on September 2, 2012 starting at 5:30 pm to be held at the Baguio Convention Center.