ILOILO City – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Western Visayas urged local government units (LGUs) to invest in disaster response equipment.
Director Jose Roberto Nuñez observed that disaster management seemed to take the back seat in some LGUs.
He would thus call on local chief executives for a “regional resilience forum” on Aug. 2 to discuss disaster risk reduction and management concerns.
In every LGU’s disaster risk reduction management fund, five percent is for life-saving equipment, said Nuñez.
“Disaster (response) equipment is important. In terms of capacitating LGUs’ disaster management personnel, the OCD has a series of training,” he added.
Also as part of the National Disaster Resilience Month celebration, OCD had a static display of disaster response equipment at a mall in this city’s Mandurriao district.
Participants included the Philippine Red Cross, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Coast Guard – Western Visayas, Iloilo City, and Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, among others.
Some of the equipment on display were for search and water rescue, vehicular accident, earthquake-collapsed structure, and emergency response vehicles.
“In my assessment, we need more training especially in responding to collapsed structures,” said Nuñez.
The OCD has a program for disaster response training and capacitating not only for volunteers but also for the general public, he stressed.
“It is for everyone, including children. This is the best thing to do in preparing for disasters,” he said. (PNA)
