As frontline service providers on disaster management, members of the regional and local disaster risk reduction and management councils in the Cordillera region were trained on Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), and Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) training courses.
The Office of Civil Defense – Cordillera Administrative Region (OCD-CAR) conducted a 5-Day training course on PDNA for members of the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) and its local counterparts held at Ridgewood Residences, Baguio City from May 29 to June 2, 2017.
PDNA is a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary structured approach for assessing disaster impacts and prioritizing recovery and reconstruction needs which is undertaken by government agencies. The assessment is a sectoral approach: social, productive, infrastructure, and cross-sectoral.
The training course is a government-funded activity which aims to demonstrate understanding on PDNA as a tool for disaster rehabilitation and recovery, and identify the steps involved in conducting such assessment. Tabletop exercises are incorporated which enable the participants to familiarize themselves with the forms and templates prescribed by the PDNA Guidance Notes, and to formulate reports based on provided disaster scenarios.
“We have lots of misunderstandings and wrong notions with regards to PDNA, and through activity, I hope we have a better understanding of what PDNA really is,” said OCD-CAR Director Andrew Alex Uy in his opening remarks.
Resource persons are PDNA experts from OCD Capacity-Building and Training Services, its regional offices, and a non-government organization.
Meanwhile, the Benguet Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office funded a 3-day training on RDANA for its provincial and municipal councils from May 30 to June 1.
The training intends to educate the province’s disaster managers on the general features of RDNA, the concept of its operation, and the phases of mobilization during deployment of assessment teams; this is also in preparation for the rainy season and any disasters that could be possibly encountered.
Also, another 3-day RDNA course will be conducted from June 7-9 for the remaining towns in Benguet.
“We will do our best to keep our people safe when disasters strike,” remarked Benguet Governor CresencioPacalso as he welcomed and encouraged the participants to be prepared before, and after emergency situations.
By Christianie Valencia, Angelica Depalog and Brenda Dakiwas