MARAWI CITY (PIA) — The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in Lanao del Sur is adopting a holistic approach to enhance disaster resilience across the province by integrating innovative training programs, advanced technology, and active community participation.
To empower local government units (LGUs) and residents to prepare for and respond to emergencies effectively, the PDRRMO is actively engaging communities, students, and youth in disaster preparedness activities.
Provincial DRRM Officer Shaminoden M. Sambitory said they are training LGUs so they can, in turn, provide training to the province’s 1,159 barangays. Key training programs include defensive driving for ambulance operators, high-angle rescue techniques, Incident Command System (ICS) training, ambulance operation management, basic life support, and Basic Occupational Safety and Health, among others.
The PDRRMO has partnered with the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Coast Guard, to provide comprehensive training in areas like fire suppression and water search and rescue.
It also collaborated with UNICEF for emergency preparedness and response training. To date, six batches have completed the program, with an additional session scheduled for October. Sambitory said these training modules focus on developing essential skills for disaster management and enhancing local disaster risk management (DRRM) plans to align with national and regional strategies.
The PDRRMO is likewise leveraging technology with Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) training designed to teach LGUs how to create hazard maps that identify areas at risk of disasters, while early warning systems, including rain gauges and tsunami alerts, are being installed in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology.
“Hazard map is very important for our LGUs for them to be able to identify the areas that are prone to landslide or areas that are prone to flash floods. An early warning system also gives our LGUs and communities time to prepare before the onset of a disaster or an emergency,” Sambitory said.
Recognizing the importance of climate change awareness as a critical component in DRRM, Sambitory further underscored that all stakeholders, including schools, must be involved in these efforts. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
