DILG, Capitol train officials, residents in flood-prone areas

By Charen O. Vera

PILI, Camarines Sur --- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Operations Office, in partnership with Camarines Sur Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Training Academy, under the Environment, Disaster Management, and Emergency Response Office of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Provincial Office, conducted the Listong Pamayanan: Training on the Enhanced Listong Pamayanan Module on Selected Barangays along the Major River Basin (MRB) in the host municipalities, San Fernando and Calabanga, Camarines Sur on October 3-5 and 8-11, 2018 respectively.

Officials and representatives of Barangay Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council (BDRRMC) and Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO)of local government units of San Fernando, Libmanan, Minalabac, Pamplona, Sipocot, Canaman, Magarao, Bombon, Calabanga, Gainza, Milaor, and Camaliganjoined the event where various topics about calamities and disaster preparedness were discussed.

The three-day training aims to raise the awareness of residents and officials on the hazards in their barangay, as they are susceptible to flooding due to the possible overflow of the Bicol River Basin, and to come up with a contingency plan to fortify and further improve the disaster preparedness of BDRRMC.

The CamSur DRRM Training Academy led the orientation of BDRRMCs about Incident Command System (ICS), Early Warning System (EWS), and Camp Coordination and Management.

On the third day of the training, a flood and evacuation drill was conducted in barangay Buenavista, San Fernando and barangay Sogod, Calabanga as Major River run along their area making their community vulnerable to flash floods.

Emerita Quidep, 55-year old resident of Barangay Sogod, describes the situation of their community every time a flash flood occurs. “When a calamity hits our barangay, the people panic because they lack idea on what to do. But because of this drill, we don’t have to be alarmed anymore; instead we can properly help ourselves and others to safety, too.”

Furthermore, with the assistance of DILG, BFP, and CamSur DRRM Training Academy, BDRRMCs designedspot maps and developed contingency plans to improve their disaster preparedness and to strengthen their ICS and EWS.

“It is already the typhoon season and it’s important that we learn more about disaster preparedness and create a contingency plan,” said Carla Peña of DILG. According to her, in order to help mitigate the effect of calamities and to avoid casualties, it is vital that a relationship between BDRRMCs and MDRRMOs be established so they can work more efficiently and effectively.