LINGAYEN– Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan called on local chief executives and disaster risk reduction and management officers (DRMMOs) of the 44 municipalities and four cities in the province to draft an ordinance that will prohibit the destruction of mountains in their respective towns.

“On an average, we are hit by 20 typhoons a year, wipe out na sana ang Pilipinas pero hindi, dahil may mga bundok which serve as our natural protection structure,” he said when he represented Governor Amado Espino Jr. during the opening of the two-day provincial summit on DRRM on February 26 at the Provincial Training and Development Center.

Also, Baraan requested mayors to increase their disaster management fund which presently consists of 5% of the local government unit’s budget.

He said that the increase in disaster fund will be allocated for relocating informal settlers who are in danger zones such as river banks.

“We have to be proactive,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, he urged the DRRMOs to have simple, community-based steps in their DRRM plans.
He told them to come up with a comprehensive and standard terms of reference on their roles and responsibilities on effective and efficient implementation of DRRM programs and projects in their respective LGUs.

The forum was conducted by the National DRRM Council through the Regional DRRMC and the Office of the Civil Defense in coordination with the Provincial DRRMC led by OIC-Executive Director Fernando De Guzman.

Other matters tackled were the institutionalization of local DRRM office, allocation and utilization of local DRRM funds, lessons from past disasters and presentation of best practices, and various issues concerning disaster preparedness with speakers from different concerned agencies.–Johanne R. Macob

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