BAGUIO CITY – The Office of Civil Defense Cordillera (OCD-CAR) conducted two trainings for LGUs with the aim to improve the quality of DRRM in the Cordillera region.
A Contingency Planning: Training of Facilitators (CP-TOF) was held on February 2 to 5, 2016 at the City Travel Hotel, Kisad Road, Baguio City.
CP-TOF was attended by 45 participants – these are DRRM members, officers and staff from the local government units of Mt. Province, Abra, Ifugao, Benguet and Baguio City.
“If we fail to plan, we plan to fail,” OCD-CAR Regional Director Andrew Alex Uy stressed during the training. He reiterated the importance of Contingency Planning in order to achieve a more strategic approach on disaster response efforts.
OCD-CAR Planning Chief Dawn Lyndelle Fernando says, “Contingency Planning is a mechanism for LGU’s, agencies, and organizations to address the needs of a community based on the worst-case scenario for a given hazard.”
Facilitators from OCD-CAR discussed various methods and processes involved in DRRM, the importance of having a CP for different levels of the government.
OCD-CAR Regional Director Andrew Alex Uy also had a discussion on the National Disaster Reduction Plan (NDRP), and its legal basis and stresses on the importance of clearly stated roles of different National Government Agencies (NGAs) within the plan.
The training not only included lectures but also workshops such as simulated seminars, scenario generation, hazard identification and others that could help further the development of CP within different LGU’s and other concerned government offices.
Meanwhile in Apayao, OCD-CAR continues to help in disaster preparedness as the Community Action for Disaster Response and Emergency (CADRE) training was held on February 2-4, 2016. The said training was held in Eco-Tourism and Sports Complex, Brgy. San Gregorio, Luna, Apayao.
The 3-day CADRE training was attended by 52 participants from different municipalities: Calanasan, Pudtol, Conner, Sta. Marcela, Kabugao, Luna and also personnel of BFP Apayao.
“Prepare. Adapt. Save Lives.” is the catchphrase during the training.
Participants were taught various courses such as, First Aid & Basic Life Support, Fire Emergencies, Basic Water Search and Rescue, Triage, Incident Command System and Family Preparedness.
OCD-CAR has other trainings and seminars lined up to improve the current situation an d uplift the standards of DRRM in the region.
By Reign Amurao and Celina Lerpido
