CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-10 has been actively working to strengthen the disaster preparedness capabilities of local government units (LGUs) in northern Mindanao. Through various initiatives, OCD-10 aims to ensure that LGUs are well-equipped to respond to and recover from natural and man-made disasters.
According to OCD-10 Regional Director Antonio Sugarol, one of the most important strategies is the development of contingency plans for various types of disasters. In the event of a disaster, these plans provide LGUs with a clear roadmap for response and recovery efforts, outlining specific protocols and procedures to follow.
“For example, last year in Camiguin, we conducted contingency planning for earthquakes because Camiguin has many volcanoes. So what we did there, together with the Department of Science and Technology, we conducted contingency planning, preparation of resources, and formulation of plans so that in the event of this calamity happening or will happen, our local government officials are well-coordinated on the protocols being adopted,” he stated during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on August 20.
Sugarol emphasized that contingency planning is crucial for communities prone to disasters, especially the 98 local government units in northern Mindanao, of which several are vulnerable to flooding and earthquakes. He encouraged these LGUs to continuously prepare, update, and practice their contingency plans to maximize their preparedness.
Sugarol said that by developing and implementing contingency plans, LGUs can ensure that they are well-prepared to respond to disasters and protect their communities, as these plans cover various aspects of disaster preparedness, including stockpiling of goods, emergency procedures, and communication protocols.
OCD-10 also spearheads quarterly national simultaneous earthquake drills (NSED) to test LGUs’ preparedness. These drills provide an opportunity to assess the readiness of LGUs and identify areas for improvement. This allows OCD-10 to evaluate the effectiveness of their contingency plans and provide guidance for further improvement.
Aside from the technical assistance on contingency planning, OCD-10 also provides training and capacity-building activities to equip LGU personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge on disaster preparedness, response, and management. These activities help to enhance the capabilities of LGUs and ensure that they are well-prepared to handle various disaster scenarios. (APB/PIA-10)
