CAPITOL NEWS

“Napakalayo na po ng ating naabot dito sa ating probinsyang Pangasinan.”

This was stated by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PRDDMC) Chief  Col. Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro in terms of the province’s readiness for calamities and its effects during the “Pangasinan in Action” (Lingguhang Talakayan sa Kapitolyo) on July 9 held at the Urduja House, Lingayen, Pangasinan.

In-line with the celebration of the National Disaster Resilience Month, formerly National Disaster Consciousness Month, Oro said that the PDRRMC aims to focus more on the disaster resilience and disaster management in Pangasinan.

“We want to shift the paradigm doon sa ‘resilience’ na word. Ang pinaka-purpose nito ay mag-level up ‘yong ating mga LGUs at stakeholders ng disaster risk reduction and management na hindi lamang ito pananaw. Kung hindi, nararapat na ilagay ito sa action,” Oro explained. “They want our communities to have a safer and adaptive community para makamit natin kung ano ang layunin ng disaster resiliency.”

The PDRRMC actively monitors the possibility of earthquakes in Pangasinan. Although there is no technology that can predict earthquakes, Oro discussed that information and education campaigns are conducted to create awareness and mobilize Pangasinenses. The Coastal Barangay Summit will be held by the end of the July in different barangays to prepare the communities in case of emergency.

Concerns regarding San Roque Dam’s capacity to withstand earthquake were raised to which Oro assured that the dam can withstand an eight-magnitude earthquake.

Oro also mentioned the institutionalized program, Ligtas at Aktibong Pamayanan, which aims to give value and emphasis to disaster preparedness.

“Kasama po sa binibigyang halaga at emphasis ng Ligtas at Aktibong Pamayanan ay ang continuous non-structural information and education campaigns. Mayroon po tayong hazard maps kung saan ang posibleng landslide prone areas at ito po ay tuloy-tuloy po nating ibinababa sa ating mga kabarangay para malaman po nila at maging aware sila kung ano ’yong mga panganib na dapat nilang paghandaan,” Oro said.

In terms of the province’s readiness for typhoons, the PDRRMC has started their proactive response as early as January through another project called the Ligtas at Aktibong Kabataan.

According to Oro, PDRRMC Chairman, Gov. Amado I. Espino, III believes that the youth’s strength and capabilities especially in the social media sphere can effectively help in information dissemination during disasters.

The effectiveness of PDRRMC’s preparations for typhoons has resulted to zero fatality in 2018. The same level of preparedness is expected this 2019, Oro said.

“Ang PDRRMO ay nariyan palagi para tumulong. There is safety in unity. Dapat magtulong-tulong tayo tuwing panahon ng bagyo. Preparedness is key sa iba’t ibang disaster,” Oro said in his parting words during the “talakayan.”

Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco said that the “Pangasinan in Action” is another brainchild project of Gov. Amado I. Espino, III with PDRRMO Chief Col. Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro and Provincial Health Officer II Dra. Anna Ma. Teresa de Guzman as resource persons on its first edition.

Hosted by Velasco and Aksyon Radyo Station Manager Violy Valdez Ferrer, the Pangasinan In Action is a weekly media forum which will be held every Tuesday at 2 pm with live streaming at  the official Facebook page of the Province of Pangasinan.

//Paula Jhea Sison

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