LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) –Over 1,800 barangay leaders from the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) successfully completed the AGRIDAM (AGent for Risk and DAmage Management) Program, enhancing disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), and response preparedness across northern Luzon.
The graduation ceremony was held at the Centennial Arena in Laoag City on Jan. 23, marking a new milestone for the AGRIDAM program.
The graduates successfully completed the series of Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Training of Trainers (CBDRRM-TOT), an initiative spearheaded by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Northern Luzon (OPANL) in partnership with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
In her message, OPANL Assistant Secretary Ana Carmela Remigio explained that the training provided village leaders with essential knowledge in disaster response, which they can now pass on to their communities.
“Disaster resilience is always critical and urgent, especially in a region as disaster-prone as ours. Guided by our will to uplift the lives of those in need and with the cooperation between local and national government, we have championed the Agents for Risk and Damage Management, or AGRIDAM,” she said.
“Through this program, we have equipped critical personnel in localities in the Ilocos, Cagayan, and Cordillera regions with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage disaster response effectively. These individuals are now not just community leaders but also advocates of disaster resilience, protectors of their communities, and agents of transformation in their localities,” Remigio added.
Moreover, OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno emphasized the significance of this initiative, highlighting its role in reinforcing disaster response and preparedness at the barangay level.
“It is essential that at the barangay level, there is preparedness. We can’t do this [disaster response] all on our own; we need partnerships with the national government, local government units, and other government agencies. This is an important initiative because our graduate trainers are from the barangay, so they know the landscape of their village and what they need. It’s important that they are involved,” he said.
Testimonies
For Engr. Laurence Bulda, municipal DRRM officer of Bangued, Abra, the training they received is essential to foster preparedness and awareness in their community in time of calamities.
“We are 24 graduates from our barangay. This is good training for us because we will be applying these to our barangays. During our training, we also included the barangay secretaries so they can cascade the information to their constituents. This is an important and essential program for us because northern Luzon, for instance Abra, is prone to disasters and other calamities,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mirna Ganimtore, local DRRM assistant of Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, was inspired to conduct their own training on disaster resilience because of the CBDRRM-TOT.
“Because of this training, our stakeholders and community will be able to help more with the dissemination of information on how to prepare for and respond to disasters, even just by doing simple preparations. Also, this training inspired us to conduct our own training for our stakeholders and community,” she said.
Lastly, Michael John Baxa Ancheta, Sangguniang Barangay member of Brgy. 6 San Pedro in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, said the CBDRRM-TOT inspired him to maximize his learning by conducting training in their barangays and encouraging communities to be more active in disaster preparedness and response.
“I want to express my gratitude because we were able to join this training last year. Because of this, I got a broader knowledge of the DRRM thematic areas. With this, I am more motivated to reach the people in my barangay if there are arising problems or conflicts. Here, I also learned the necessity of having a local DRRM fund to ensure preparedness, mitigation, and quick response,” he said.
Interactive Exhibit
During the training, various rescue and medical equipment, including surveillance tools, protective gear, and rescue vehicles, were showcased.
The exhibit highlighted essential resources used in enhancing disaster response and preparedness in local communities.
Participating exhibitors included the 71st Infantry Brigade, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA), and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.
The successful graduation of over 1,800 village leaders marks a pivotal step in strengthening disaster resilience across northern Luzon, empowering local communities with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to calamities and ensuring a more prepared and united region in the face of future disasters. (AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
