ILOILO – To strengthen the campaign against illegal fishing in northern Iloilo, a disaster resilience hub broke ground in Carles town on Saturday, July 1.
To be called the Provincial Civil Defense (ProCid) Operations Center, it will also serve as an office of local and national government agencies, a shelter, a comfort room, and a warehouse for disaster response equipment.
The two-storey ProCid Operations Center was allocated P5 million by the Iloilo provincial government through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and former governor Arthur Defensor Sr. led the groundbreaking in Barangay Poblacion, Carles.
“Gina-rationalize naton ang operations, gina-firm up naton ang capacities sang aton partners didto. That is how we are developing our capacity there,” said Defensor.
Also present during the groundbreaking were PDRRMO head Dr. Jerry Bionat, Carles’ Mayor Siegfredo Betita, and other municipal officials.
The towns of Banate, Estancia and Miag-ao will also have their own operations hub.
Bionat earlier said the hubs will house the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office, the Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Police, and Philippine National Police, among others, for swift communication with the ProCid Operations Center at the provincial capitol.
“In cases of emergency, may ara didto [operation hub] nga pareho diri sa amon nga opisina (referring to ProCid) wherein amo na ang coordination areas didto,” Bionat said in an interview with Panay News.
With the hubs located in strategic areas, the PDRRMO chief said the transmission of information will be faster, emergency responses will be immediately implemented, and the arrival of assistance timely.
“Mabudlay kag nagaka-delay pero kon may hubs, then may personnel nga naga-manage, indi na sila mangin dependent diri,” added Bionat.
The provincial government will also extend additional help to make these hubs functional, such as providing computer sets, telephones, and other equipment needed.
Bionat further explained the four towns were the first recipients because they already identified the lot where their respective hub would be constructed.
They are also located in strategic areas because they are either flood-prone or located in coastal areas.
The PDRRMO head assured more operations hubs would be set up in other towns.
Citing the provincial government’s experience in past disasters and emergencies, situation reporting was delayed due to the lack of personnel and equipment at the municipal level, said Bionat./PN
