DA hosts disaster risk reduction seminar in Angeles City

THE Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 3 hosted a two-day training-workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management from May 26-27 at Savannah Resort Hotel in Angeles City.

The activity was attended by Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz Jr., Chief of Field Operations Division Elma S. Mananes, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Focal Person Eduviges T. Pelayo, and DRRM Alternate Focal Person Lowell D. Rebillaco, Banner Program Coordinators, representatives of Provincial Agriculture Offices, Agricultural Programs Coordinating Officers.

Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz Jr. said that the activity is timely since rainy season has already begun, typhoons that causes flooding will be a rampant and surely will cause damages on crop and livestock's.

"The purpose of this two-day training-workshop is to give an update and to have a re-orientation on how to do damage assessment and reporting, at the same time, on how we are going to do some calculation requests for funding for our quick response fund to give help or assistance to our farmers who are affected of certain disasters," Lapuz stated.

He added that the activity will be productive and will help everyone on the proper and reliable way of reporting, assessment of damages, and calculation of value of losses on which farmers and fisherfolk including livestock farmers experiencing during the disasters which they can use for their plans to have a best result.

Field Operations Division Chief Elma S. Mananes expresses her gratitude to all the participants as all of the provinces in Central Luzon are well represented.

Having same thoughts with Dr. Lapuz, she emphasizes the importance of participating in the said activity and hoping that everyone will take the opportunity to gain more knowledge on how to properly report damages on their respective provinces.

"Sa atin nakasalalay ang reporting system or yung mga reported damages kapag mayroong calamity na dumarating sa ating rehiyon, and as we all know based on the reports doon nagka-come up ang national government or Department of Agriculture kung paano natin matutulungan ang ating mga magsasaka," Mananes emphasized.

She said that each participant plays a vital role thru this reporting system, from municipal to provincial and regional to national level as it is the basis of proposals and strategies on how to address those who are affected of calamities.

From the perspective of DRMM Focal Person Eduviges T. Pelayo "We are here, again, not to burden you but then we know during these days we need to have a real time and really reliable reports," Pelayo explained.

She also encourage each of the participant to be pro-active on reporting the damages and work together not only in reporting but even on the field activities they are conducting through technologies since their goal is to reduce the risk especially on agricultural production.

The training-workshop focuses on presenting the damage assessment and reporting system, reiteration of DRR reports, damage matrix, DRR reporting timeline and workshop on the cost of production for all commodities.