A-PAD Metro Naga envisions a more resilient community in 2020

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay CAROLINA, Naga City --- Alongside with its vision to be the leading cross-sectoral platform for coordination on disaster resilience in the Bicol Region, the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) Philippines raised its bar another notch higher by opening its door to willing partners. During the A-PAD Metro Naga Planning cum workshop activity held over the weekend at Haciendas de Naga, Barangay Pacol, Carolina here, the blueprint for A-PAD’s expansion of its current members and stakeholders was discussed, including its 2018-2020 pathway towards building more resilient communities. A-PAD Philippines National Coordinator Maricris Biñas said that more partners would mean more hands to help the needy and more resources to supplement the needs of the most vulnerable communities during emergencies and time of calamities. “We were inspired by what A-PAD Metro Naga has accomplished and we want to replicate their milestones to other communities in the Bicol Region. We look forward to more partners who are committed, dedicated and resolute in their desire to help those who are in need, especially during the most vulnerable times.” Since its inception in February 2016, A-PAD Metro Naga, under the chairmanship of Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), Inc., has already made itself visible and responsive during various calamities that stuck Camarines Sur and its neighboring province. A-PAD Metro Naga is composed of nine (9) members: Citizen’s Disaster Response Center (DDRC), Tarabang para sa Bicol, (TABI) Inc., Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC), Naga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (NCDRRMO), MNCCI Inc., Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA), Mariners Polytechnic Colleges (MPC), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and Philippine Information Agency (PIA)- Camarines Sur Provincial Office.