PUDTOL, Apayao— In a bid to enhance disaster response capabilities of key players in disaster response and management, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in partnership with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Cordillera is currently conducting a comprehensive training on Rapid Disaster Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) since yesterday, August 16.
The training, which is the first to be conducted in Apayao, will span for three days until August 18 at the RJ Domingo Farm in Pudtol, Apayao with a team of seasoned experts in the field of disaster management to serve as resource persons.
The event was attended by, municipal DRRM officers, and members of the municipal and provincial DRRM councils particularly from the Response cluster involving various national government agencies such as the Department of Public and Highway (DPWH), Apayao First District, Second District Engineering Office (AF/SDEO), Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD), Social Welfare and Development (SWAD), Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), PDOHO, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Education (DEPED), among others.
Throughout the training, participants will be exposed to various scenarios simulating natural disasters, especially those that are perennial in Apayao, and will be tasked with conducting on-site assessments, rapidly identifying immediate needs, evaluating infrastructure damage, and gauging the social and psychological impacts on affected populations.
Realistic field exercises will also be conducted to equip participants with hands-on experience, including the use of geographic information systems (GIS), and mobile data collection tools, to name a few. Participants are also expected to learn how to efficiently gather and analyze data, develop needs assessment reports, and communicate findings to stakeholders and response teams.
“One of the training’s expected key takeaways is the importance of collaboration and coordination among different response agencies and organizations,” said LDRRM Officer Joeffrey Borromeo in an interview on the training’s first day.
“As the world grapples with increasingly frequent and severe disasters, the value of well-trained professionals in rapid disaster assessment and needs analysis cannot be overstated. The training program stands as a beacon of hope, equipping individuals with the tools they need to make a tangible difference in times of crisis,” Borromeo said.
The OCD is mandated by the RA 10121 to institutionalize Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA), further highlighted under Rule 7, Section 3 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations, tasking the OCD to formulate standard operating procedures for the deployment of RDANA teams, information sharing among different government agencies, and coordination before and after disaster at all levels.
RDANA works by providing a quick “snapshot” of the disaster situation. It determines the extent of damages brought about by a disaster, including its secondary threats, the critical needs of the affected population, and local response capacities. By Michelle O. Acantilado