LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Provincial government offices and member agencies of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) have taken initial steps in formulating the province’s disaster contingency plan.
As a preliminary, PDRRMC-member offices and agencies convened at the Subic Bay Travellers Hotel in Subic, Zambales from September 25-28 for the Contingency Planning Formulation Workshop which was organized by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
PDRRMO Chief Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro said the training – workshop jumpstarts the province’s initiative in crafting a comprehensive contingency plan which will be activated when critical need arises.
“Better to plan when it is not needed, than not to have prepared when it was necessary,” Oro stressed in coding the importance of a disaster contingency plan.
Fully supported by the provincial administration led by Governor Amado I. Espino, III, the contingency planning is a proactive measure of the provincial administration on disaster risk reduction and management.
Office of the Civil Defense – Region 1 sent Assistant Regional Director Imelda Acosta who led the team which administered the training-workshop.
Levelling of knowledge on disaster risk reduction and management and introduction to contingency planning, including the factor related to crafting the said plan preceded the training-workshop.
Training-workshop proper included hazard identification, developing a background for chapter one, formulation of goals and objectives, identification and planning of clusters for coordination, command and control, and the activation, deactivation and non-activation of a contingency plan.
Features of the Emergency Operations Center and Incident Command System were also included, highlighting the protocols which must be followed.
Oro said the rough draft of the province’s contingency plan will undergo further developments for fine-tuning.
Meanwhile, participants from DRRM offices and agencies toured at the warehouse of Philippine Red Cross (PRC) located in Subic Bay as well as at the PRC’s Amazing Grace ship docked in Subic port.
By Dexter A. See
