OCD-ARMM LAUDS UPI DRRM INITIATIVES

Upi, MAGUINDANAO- Office of Civil Defense-ARMM OIC Myrna J. Angot has lauded the Upi LGU on its various initiatives on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management under the helm of Mayor Ramon A. Piang, Sr. who is also the Chairman of the MDRRMC.

Josefino Dabuco, MDRRMO, said that a project known as the “Community-Driven Disaster Response and Adaptation Program (CDRAP)” was developed to further institutionalize a culture of disaster preparedness and response among the families and various Tri-People communities of the town.

“The local government unit currently pushes through an on-going collaboration of the Local Government Unit through the MDRRM Office together with at least ten (10) identified barangays, the Teduray Day-School Project and the USAID-ENGAGE Project,” said Dabuco.

Jonas O. Minted, MDRRMO staff, said the CDRAP is in support to the implementation of the disaster risk reduction and management as well as climate change adaptation interventions of the barangay and the municipal LGU.

“It focuses on strengthening the readiness, preparedness and capacity of two hundred fifty (250) target individual families to respond to disasters and be effectively engaged in the whole process of addressing disaster preparedness and adaptation at the community level,” said Minted.

Further, Angot said the initiative of the MDRRMC is simply well applauded by the Civil Defense.

“They are truly uplifting community resiliency, for them to be more aware on disaster preparedness, and disaster prevention and mitigation,” said Angot.

As part of the CDRAP effort, the Upi MDRRMC has distributed emergency “grab bags” today, 12 July 2016 to at least two hundred fifty (250) identified at-risk families coming from the Barangays of Blensong, Borongotan, Bugabungan, Darugao, Kaba-kaba, Kiga, Kinitaan, Nangi, Nuro and Rempes.

The distribution was led by Mayor Piang together with Vice Mayor Alexis Platon, OCD-ARMM, MDRRMO Josefino Dabuco, USAID ENGAGE Project Deputy Chief of Party Bernardo R. Roa, IV, Municipal Officials and Barangay Officials.

Earlier, Piang said that the Community based DRRM Trainings have been their focus for the last couple of years.

“We have been training our people, our men in uniform all the way from the BFP, PNP, the Philippine Marines and even our Barangay Emergency Response Team (BERT) members for they are the first responders when disaster strikes,” he said. (GILMHAR A. LAO/MINDANAO EXPOSE’, Photos Courtesy of ALJON RICO)