DISASTER RESPONSE. Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria (facing camera, seated) speaks to Central Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council officials on Tuesday (June 20, 2023) on disaster response and other related concerns. The officials, headed by regional director Segundo Bolo (seated, right) is seeking the establishment of a response and relief resources prepositioning hub in the province. (Photo courtesy of PDRRMO-Negros Oriental)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Central Visayas (RDRRMC 7) on Tuesday sought the support of Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria on the establishment of a Provincial Resource Mobilization Center.
The proposed Provincial Resource Mobilization Facility is imperative as this will improve logistical concerns during emergencies and disasters, Segundo Bolo, RDRRMC 7 chair and also the Central Visayas regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), told the governor during a courtesy call.
Segundo Bolo met with Sagarbarria, accompanied by Lilibeth Cabiara, DRRM Division Chief of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 7, to discuss disaster response-related matters.
Adrian Sedillo, the PDRRMO chief, told the Philippine News Agency that during the meeting with the governor, the RDDRMC officials explained that the proposed facility will act as a hub where disaster response and relief essentials will be pre-positioned for immediate deployment when necessary.
According to Cabiara, there are around 11 prepositioned sites across the province but a bigger facility is needed to make disaster response more effective.
“They saw that these sites are small and they want to have something bigger that can hold the desired quantity of resources, so they are asking assistance from the provincial government of Negros Oriental and during the discussion, Gov. Sagarbarria gladly recognized the importance of the program,” Sedillo said.
They have initially made arrangements that will be strengthened later on so that this proposal can take off sooner, he added.
Other disaster response and mitigating measures were also discussed, to which Sagarbarria expressed his support and cooperation as it is of the directions that his administration is taking.
The governor assured the RDDRMC officials of help in finding space for the proposed resource mobilization center and a bigger office for the provincial DSWD field office.
The visit is timely as the provincial government is also gearing up for the possible occurrence of El Niño this year, Sedillo said.
The PDRRM Council is expected to convene in the coming weeks to determine the course of action the province would take in the event of the weather phenomenon taking place, he added. (PNA)
