DISASTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT. Personnel of the Office of Civil Defense speaks to Chairperson Jabert Hordista (right) of Barangay Perez, Kidapawan City on Monday (Jan. 13, 2020) regarding the extent of damage of the earthquakes to his village. The village is one of the hardest-hit areas of three major quakes that rocked Kidapawan City and the rest of North Cotabato province in October last year. (Photo courtesy of Kidapawan CIO)
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- To ensure damage management and assessment as a result of the major quakes that rocked this city and North Cotabato in October last year, the city government, in partnership with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-12), has conducted Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) in all damaged and affected barangays.
The PDNA aims to assess the overall impact of the recent earthquakes to affected families and communities and provide assistance in recovery and disaster rehabilitation in partnership with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), officials said.
As part of rebuilding efforts, Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista on Monday has announced measures that will be implemented in the recovery efforts of the local government after series of strong earthquakes struck this city on October 16, 29, and 31, 2019.
Evangelista said the PDNA is one of the measures being undertaken to rebuild the lives of affected families and reconstruct damaged communities, the mayor said.
Kidapawan City is the first local government unit in North Cotabato that has initiated the Post Disaster Needs Assessment in the province.
“Participating in the PDNA were the city water district, engineering, power providers, health and planning offices and many others,” Evangelista said in a statement.
After the series of lectures over the weekend, participants were divided into groups for the on-site visitation and assessment of affected families and communities.
Among the initial barangays visited were the hardest-hit villages of Ilomavis, Balabag, Perez, and Poblacion.
“Affected residents were interviewed during the PDNA assessment,” Evangelist said, adding most of the victims expressed concerns on housing and lack of sustainable livelihood and service utilities.
He said the other concerns include the damaged school buildings, roads, and other public infrastructures, the spread of illnesses in evacuation camps, emotional stress and trauma.
"All of these concerns together with the correlative policy recommendations will be integrated into the PDNA report to be submitted to the Office of the President while those can be done locally will be prioritized,” the mayor said. (PNA)
