LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -The provincial government under the stewardship of Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III sponsored the first-ever regional Disaster and Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Summit recently at the Sison Auditorium.
Facilitated in by the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), the event was participated in by all DRRM officers from the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.
Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. thanked all participants especially Mayor Ferdinand Sales of Pagudpud for coming over to Pangasinan to attend the whole-day event.
As such, Calimlim said the first-ever summit can serve as the best venue where the four provinces of the region can share their local government units best practices on safety preparedness and risk reduction and be able to learn from each other.
Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Melchito De Castro, on the other hand, commended the Pangasinan provincial government for initiating the event noting that the summit manifests a solid partnership of all four provinces of the region.
Meanwhile, OCD Deputy Administrator and Assistant Secretary Christopher James Purisima who represented Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, said that in order to realize the goals set in the national disaster response plan, information and empowerment should go hand in hand.
Aside from this, he also noted that coordination with LGUs should also be enhanced.
Highlights of the event include the ceremonial turn-over of Ligtas at Aktibong Pamayanan posters to the youth sector represented by John Mark Mangapot, Supreme Student Government president of the Pangasinan National High School.
Special report on the following topics were discussed by different presenters: Facts About The Big One, The Geographical Project: An Advanced GIS Software from Japan, Integration of REDAS Software and GEOcloud GIS for Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Preparedness for Emergency 1st Responders and DRRM Council Members.
The summit was also attended by different line agencies like the Pangasinan Philippine National Police (PNP) spearheaded by P/supt Ronald Oliver Lee, Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire and Protection, Dept. of Public Works and Highways, PAGASA, National Food Authority, Agno River Flood Forecasting System, municipal/city local government officers, among others.
By Dexter A. See
