DISASTER RISK REDUCTION SUMMIT. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson speaks during the opening of the three-day 1st Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Summit at the Mambukal Resort in Murcia town on Tuesday (July 26, 2022). Held until Thursday (July 28), the participants are crafting the “One Negros Response Plan” for a unified disaster response protocol during emergencies and disasters. (Photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental)
BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental provincial government is pooling its resources to strengthen local disaster and risk response management together with the 31 cities and municipalities in the province.
The initiatives will be highlighted in the crafting of the “One Negros Response Plan” on Wednesday and Thursday as part of the 1st Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Summit held at the Mambukal Resort in Murcia town.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said only through the effective management of conditions of hazards, exposure, and vulnerability that the people and the government can prevent losses and ease the impacts of disasters.
“(This) DRRM Summit, in response to our multifarious concerns, aims to issue a unified disaster response protocol to be adopted and followed during emergency and disaster situations,” he said during the event’s opening on July 26.
Lacson pointed out that since the severity of natural hazards cannot be controlled, the window for reducing risk lies in reducing vulnerability and exposure.
The governor added that following the province’s experiences with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the past two years and the devastating Typhoon Odette last December, there is a need to expand the scope of services of the Provincial DRRMO Office.
“We will manage resources, including manpower, to effectively match the need of our constituents through the One Hospital Command, Emergency Rescue 911, and Command and Response Center,” he added.
Lacson said the province will also improve the setup of its automated early warning system through the installation of repeaters in critical areas of each local government unit to improve the emergency response of concerned barangays.
Attended mainly by local chief executives and DRRM officers, the three-day summit, which is part of the local observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month, also includes training workshops such as strategies for managing mental health and stress in the workplace, introduction to incident command system, and managing planned events and major incidents. (PNA)
