Davao Norte firms up data capture system for disaster loss

BANKING on its initial victory in terms of disaster response and emergency relief, the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte is taking further steps in improving its system to sharpen the data it gets from the ground during disasters.

The province has conceptualized a model for the systematic reporting of disaster loss, after Governor Rodolfo del Rosario mandated the frontline offices of the Provincial Capitol to put in place vital mechanisms for the standard accounting of extent of damages.

He said accurate damage assessment following the impact of major catastrophe is very useful in determining the needs of the victims and the strategies for appropriate assistance essential to help the affected areas return into normalcy.

"We must establish all the necessary systems that we can think of, so we can come up with a credible and quality report," del Rosario said during the workshop on the establishment of a management information system (MIS) on the impact of disasters on agriculture held by the Provincial Agriculturist Office (Pagro).

The governor cited the final consolidated report on the impact of Super Typhoon Pablo to the province of Davao del Norte, which sustained damages to agriculture worth P3.562 billion, as well as, to infrastructure costing P143.8 million.

The governor said the standard template generated at the disaster MIS workshop shall be replicated to other frontline offices of the Capitol, such as the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Division, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, and Provincial Health Office, among others.

After polishing it, capitol will subsequently roll out the new system to the different local government units of the province, to institute a uniform and quick reporting of damage assessment from the affected barangays and municipalities.

This is very vital in producing an accurate final calamity report in the shortest possible time, according to the governor.

Del Rosario also appointed OIC-Provincial Information Officer Romulo Tagalo as the official spokesperson for the media and other organizations seeking information directly from calamities in the province.