LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Provincial banner program coordinators and report officers of Rice, Corn, HVCDP and Livestock reviewed the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Manual of the Department of Agriculture (DA-DRRM) during the Orientation on Cordillera DRRM at the conference hall of the Cordillera office of the National Irrigation Administration in La Trinidad, Benguet.
The DA-DRRM Manual will serve as a template for centralized and organized reporting before, during and after calamities and as a guide for the department in dealing with hazards to reduce risks and manage the consequences of its impact in the agricultural sector.
The DA DRRM Operation Center is chaired by Regional Executive Director Lorenzo M. Caranguian and vice chaired by the Regional Technical Director for Operations Danilo Daguio. Its members are Jesus Aspuria of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Superintendent Arlene Flores of the Cordillera office of the Agricultural Training Institute, Regional Director Lilibeth Signey of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Director Florencio Pintor of the Cordillera office of the National Meat Inspection Service. Secretariat or the report officers is headed by OIC-Chief of Field Operations Virginia Tapat and its members are Michael Bugtong for Corn Program, Lito Mocati for HVCDP, Leisley Deligen for Livestock Program, Gerardo Banawa for Rice Program, Engr. Marvin Ladilad for Infrastructure and Robert Domoguen for documentation and at the same time, the spokesperson.
Under the DA-CAR DRRM Operation Center (OpCent) is the Regional Quick Response Office or Center (RQRO) or the Regional Command Post (Hub). Daguio serves as the chairman.
The DA-CAR DRRM OpCen’s main objective is to disseminate warnings, advisories and information to the public, direct and coordinate preparedness and response operations; coordinate with the counterparts; staff the DA RQRO on a 24-hour daily basis; mobilize its personnel, the regional integrated agricultural research centers and regional information offices; monitor supply of commodities, price of goods, logistics and among others; provide logistical support and coordinate response operations and resource mobilization; receive and consolidate the DRRM related reports from the bureaus and attached agencies/ corporation’s regional office; prepare and submit the required DRRM reports to the DA-DRRM OpCen; define the parameters for analyzing impacts of disasters at the regional level and conduct situational assessment, damage and loss assessment; recommend rehabilitation measures and submit to DA DRRM OpCen; act as a clearing house for regional disaster-related information; and perform other functions deemed necessary by the DA.
Moreover, there is also the Provincial Quick Response Office or the Provincial Command Post staffed by the APCOs, the provincial and municipal banner program coordinators and report officers. Their function is to provide the RQRO or Provincial Command Post once a typhoon signal or once the RDRRMC has declared a red alert status. They should also give initial feedback to the RQRO on the weather and crop situation in the provinces and other data for the pre-disaster report. They are to assist the Rapid Damage and Loss Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) Team in the conduct of rapid damage assessment, initially monitor and validate the extent of damages and losses in coordination with the local governments.
Completing the DA-DRRM OpCen is the Regional DRR and Climate Information Office
(DCIO) whose task is to enhance and process DRRM information systems, geospatial systems and related databases (risk and impact mapping & assessment, dynamic cropping calendars, and seasonal and short range forecasts. They also monitor, evaluate and assess agricultural damages incurred by human-induced disasters using high resolution satellite imagery as well as Remotely Piloted Aircraft/Unmanned Aerial System (RPA/UAS) or drone equipped with photogrammetry and navigation equipment for pre-disaster risk assessment (PDRA), damage and loss assessment and needs analysis which includes Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) and Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDANA). In addition, they integrate field tested or validate risk assessment tools and methods into the project implementation and monitoring guidelines of the department and gather data on hazard forecasting, early warning, facilitate analysis and dissemination.
Susan Balanza heads the DCIO and the members includes Charles Picpican, Ramon Bag-eo, Imelda Balaoing and Robert Domoguen.
By Karen T. Gawigawen
