LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - The Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council (MDCC) has been formed consisting of four units from seven branches of service and a disaster operations center at the heart of town.
The extensive re-organization has taken to heart the massive efforts needed last year during the rampage of Typhoon Pepeng making the MDCC components specific and detailed.
Mayor Greg Abalos sits as chairman of the executive committee with Vice Mayor Romeo Salda as vice chairman. Local Police Chief Freddie Lazona and Fire Chief Saturnino Labbang, were designated co-action officers with defense coordinator Romeo Lopez.
An intelligence unit was also created to be headed by Police Officer Manuel Basngi. Likewise the newly formed Plans and Operations Unit will be headed by Councilor Von Ryan Tauli, while the Resource Unit will be headed by Councilor Henry Kipas.
The Public Information Communication and Warning Services will be led by Councilor Horacio Ramos; the Transportation and Evacuation Service, Councilor Jim Botiwey; Rescue Service will be headed by Councilors Robert Namoro, Johnrey Miguel and Tauli.
There are 19 components of the service aimed to focus on actual rescue operations and inventory rescue facilities and needs.
Fire services is led by Councilor Arthur Shontogan with co-leader Labbang, support agencies include the fire protection bureau, civic action and rescue groups, barangay fire brigades and local water district and water services associations in La Trinidad.
Relief service is headed by Councilors Estrella Adeban, Botiwey and Miguel with teams designated to man all operations.
Relief supplies and management team is composed of four teams while the Food Service Team is composed of three.
Under relief services there is a Food Preparation team with support agencies backing them aimed to organize relief efforts and train volunteers to respond to emergencies, solicitation and coordination of relief services is tasked to be undertaken by the group.
Rehabilitation services is headed by Councilors Francis Lee with Kipas with five components tasked to organize reaction teams, rehabilitation, assure availability of commodities and maintain normal level of prices of commodities.
A documentation and secretariat has also been created in the re-organization of the MDCC. (Maria Elena Catajan)