BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-CAR) disclosed that 80 local governments in the region were able to submit their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans (LDRRM) plans, which is one of the major requirements of the compliance of local governments to the coveted Seal of Good Local governance (SGLG).
Mary Ann Griba, DILG-CAR regional DRRM-CCA focal person, said the only local governments that have not yet submitted their LDRRM plans are the provincial government of Ifugao and municipal governments of Hingyon in Ifugao and Bokod in Benguet.
Of the 80 local governments that have submitted their LDRRM plans to the Cordillera office of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD-CAR) for review, Griba claimed 3 local governments were not able to comply with the requirement that the plan must conform to the prevailing risk assessment and vulnerability in their areas of jurisdiction.
The DILG-CAR DRRM focal person revealed that of the local governments that have submitted their LDRRM plans, only 23 local governments have plans that are beyond 2017 which means that most Cordillera local governments have to update their LDRRM plans to comply with updated risk assessments and vulnerabilities in their areas of jurisdiction.
Griba explained concerned government agencies are now extending the appropriate assistance to the local governments that have not yet submitted their updated LDRRM plans so that local officials will be guided accordingly for them to qualify for the SGLG that will be issued to the complying LGUs.
According to her, the LDRRM plans of local governments must incorporate the identified interventions, programs, plans and projects that will be implemented by the concerned government agencies and local governments to significantly reduce the exposure of their constituents to potential risks during disasters.
She added the agency is also assisting other local governments to work out the appointment of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (LDRRMOs) in their localities so that there will be continuity in the implementation of various programs and projects related to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in their areas of jurisdiction to prevent the loss of lives and damage to properties.
Griba called on local officials to strictly adhere to the guidelines crafted for the appointment of LDRRMOs and the submission of updated LDRRM plans for their localities to be able to qualify for the stringent rules and regulations relative to their compliance to disaster risk reduction and management.
The DILG-CAR official expressed confidence that local governments that have not yet updated their LDRRM plans will be able to update their submitted plans and programs that will further empower their constituents to be disaster resilient for the benefit of safer places to live and zero casualties during the occurrence of natural calamities in their places.
Local governments are mandated to earmark at least 5 percent of their annual budgets primarily for disaster risk reduction and management programs and projects to build disaster-resilient communities around the country.
By Dexter A. See