Contingency planning on typhoons, floods held
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has conducted a “Contingency Planning Workshop for Hydrometeorological Hazards” from Nov. 15 to 19 participated by representatives of DRRM Council member offices, agencies and civil society organizations.
Hydrometeorological hazards are of atmospheric, hydrologic or oceanographic origin like typhoons or hurricanes, floods, flash floods, and more.
CDRRMO chief Antonette Anaban said the five-day activity aimed to give participants the knowledge, skills and attitude that are essential in formulating a contingency plan that is responsive to needs that will arise during a worst-case disaster situation triggered by typhoons and the like.
In 2018, Typhoon Ompong left around 54 dead, 42 missing and 32 injured as it hammered the Cordillera Administrative Region including the Summer Capital.
Anaban explained that DRRM is the systematic process of using administrative directives, organizations, operational skills and capacities to implement strategies, policies and improved coping capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of hazards and possibility of disasters.
She also cited the 2020 World Risk Report where the Philippines ranked as the 9th country most at risk to disasters globally.
“Being situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire and Typhoon Belt, our country is prone to natural hazards such as typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. Furthermore, human-induced hazards such as crimes, terrorism and bombing also threated the lives of communities,” Anaban said.
Efficient disaster management is one of the city government’s 15-point agenda towards achieving good governance. — Gaby B. Keith
