DIPOLOG CITY (PIA) – During this week’s Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas press conference, Regional Director Ramon Ochotorena of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) – IX announced that the office is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
Under the Department of National Defense (DND), the OCD serves as the official implementing arm of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council (NDRRMC).
With the theme “Celebrating 70 years of Resiliency”, the OCD-IX reported conducting seven civil defense enhancement trainings in 2023, which produced 262 graduates in 2023. Additionally, the office conducted 20 disaster risk reduction and management trainings across the Zamboanga Peninsula, producing 796 graduates and providing technical assistance on 46 occasions, benefiting 1,591 individuals.
In February, the office held the final writeshop for the Regional Contingency Plan on Earthquake and Tsunami at LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga City. During this event, OCD-IX, along with member-agencies of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC), formulated and established arrangements to enable timely, effective, and appropriate responses in the event of an earthquake and/or a tsunami.
Dir. Ochotorena also reported that 10 local government units (LGUs) received the Beyond Compliant status for the Gawad KALASAG Seal for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction Management, while 30 LGUs were completely compliant. Notably, the cities of Zamboanga and Dipolog were Beyond Compliant.
Created in 1998, the Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang kaligtasan) is the country’s annual awards recognizing and honoring individuals, groups or institutions that exhibit extraordinary courage, heroism, and sacrifice in the face of natural or human-induced hazards in the Philippines. The awards are organized by the OCD.
During the press conference, Dir. Ochotorena reiterated OCD-IX’s commitment to assisting LGUs and national government agencies in ensuring the safety of the Filipino people.
The Office of Civil Defense can be tapped by the local government units if they are unable to manage flooding issues within their areas. We are available to provide technical assistance,” he said. (JPA/PJF/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte)
