Davao Norte strengthens incident command system

By Jeanevive D. Abangan

Friday 3rd of August 2012

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Aug 3 (PIA) -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) strengthened its incident command system (ICS), while fast tracking the establishment of the mechanism in all the barangays.

The council reinforced the ICS in compliance with Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario’s directive to raise the level of disaster preparedness in the province.

According to PDRRMC action officer Sonio Sanchez, who was also designated as the incident commander of the province, the governor has ordered the council to strengthen its disaster response capability, along with the sectors of preparedness, mitigation and rehabilitation.

This is to make sure all the mechanisms vital for the safety and well-being of the people are put in place before, during and after the onset of calamities.

To be more proactive, the response committee of the PDRRMC met on July 31 to strengthen its organizational structure and clearly define the roles and functions of its subsectors based on the ICS.

Team leaders were subsequently identified for the subsectors of the search, rescue and retrieval operation; medical emergency; evacuation, relief and evacuation management; transportation; and security.

Del Rosario enjoined the reinforcement of the ICS, as a standard on-scene disaster response and management system that ensures a unified and well-coordinated action in times of emergencies.

“The governor wants the Capitol and the local government units to be truly prepared and be able to respond more effectively and mitigate the impacts of disasters,” Sanchez said in the vernacular.

He said the system was already established in all the city and municipal governments, including the 64 flood-prone barangays in the province. The PDRRMC aims to set up the mechanism in all the other barangays this year.

He added his office is now completing the disaster operations manual of the province, which will form part of the local public safety code being reviewed at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. (Noel Baguio-PGO Info DavNor)