Disaster risk reduction ‘crucial’ to development goals

DISASTER risk reduction management is crucial to the attainment of regional development goals, according to an official of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

Bonifacio Uy, Neda regional director, said Eastern Visayas, being a poor region and vulnerable to calamities, must not allow another disastrous calamity to happen so that government efforts will not go to waste.

“The only way not to suffer is to expand and deepen disaster awareness and practice disaster preparedness,” Uy said.

“We cannot afford more lives and properties to be lost. At this time, all sectors must work together to reduce disaster risks in our region,” he said.

Natural calamities cut crop production and destroy infrastructure, he said.

The Neda official said the government spends millions of pesos in restoring damaged roads and bridges and that hampers other priority projects.

He said Neda is providing technical assistance in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction (DRR) into provincial development and physical framework plans.

He said a reference manual for mainstreaming DRR into comprehensive land use plans will also be submitted to the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board for incorporation in the comprehensive land use guidelines. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)