Meralco empowers LGUs in making communities more resilient

Mt. Mayon continues to exhibit signs of unrest several days after it spewed lava on the evening of June 8. This phenomenon serves as a reminder for everyone on the importance of having an emergency preparedness and disaster response plan on standby. This is especially crucial for countries like the Philippines, which are situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Simply put, due to our geographic location, we face an inherent risk of facing natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and typhoons, among others.

Recognizing the imminence and potential impact of these natural hazards, the government continues to work hand in hand with members of the private sector in strengthening the country’s disaster response planning and preparedness. In fact, among its recent initiatives was the roll out of a web application aptly called “PlanSmart Ready to Rebuild”.

This was launched by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and in partnership with the World Bank in September 2022.

PlanSmart was developed to overhaul and modernize the country’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) planning processes. Meant to be utilized by the country’s different local government units (LGUs), this web application is expected to aid local government unit (LGU) officials in devising an efficient plan that will eventually pave the way for faster post-disaster rebuilding and recovery.

As the country’s largest electric distribution utility, Meralco recognizes its important role in nation-building and economic development. The company has wholeheartedly backed the government in its endeavors and thrust, not just towards national growth and advancement, but also in disaster risk and response planning and preparedness. Hence, when the PlanSmart web application was rolled out, Meralco viewed it as another valuable opportunity to further support the government.

Since November of last year, through its social development arm, One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the company has been actively supporting various activities associated with PlanSmart including a series of regional training sessions that are aimed at strengthening the disaster response capabilities of LGUs. Over 180 participants from 52 LGUs in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao who are all involved in their respective LGU’s disaster rehabilitation and recovery programs have benefitted from these capacity-building activities.

Honored to take part in this groundbreaking initiative, OMF president Jeffrey O. Tarayao said in an opening ceremony of a training session for the web application: “The PlanSmart Ready to Rebuild is an investment for the safety and survival of our people and the livelihoods and communities we have built. PlanSmart is a very important down payment. It is now our responsibility to pay for the balance by learning to utilize this for the good of the country and its future.”

Apart from implementing emergency preparedness measures and disaster response operations, OMF has also been supporting underserved communities across the country through its electrification programs. Capitalizing on its robust grassroots partnerships, OMF delivers sustainable solutions that bring lasting impact within and beyond Meralco’s franchise area.

Our country’s post-disaster recovery is directly correlated to our level of preparedness against natural calamities. When faced with any form of natural disasters, our main objectives should be to minimize loss of lives and to mitigate the overall impact of these disasters on our infrastructure and economy. With this, strategic partnerships between the government and the private sector that are dedicated to this cause are crucial because effective preparedness requires collective effort to ensure that communities across the country are safer and more resilient.

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in the foregoing article are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) or any other office under the Presidential Communications Office.