TUGUEGARAO CITY, July 29 — The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) in Cagayan Valley has encouraged local government units(LGUs) to invest more in disaster risk reduction and management programs.
OCD-02 regional director and chairman of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Dante D. Balao on Saturday told PNA that prevention and mitigation should be on top priority of LGUs rather than investing more on response.
“If LGU will invest on DRRM, there would be only little efforts on response and rehabilitation as we have prevented and mitigated the risks of disasters and capacitated the people on what to do prior to any calamity,” he added.
Aside from the cash incentives that the LGU may get in return of their investments, the resiliency and safety of the people count much as the greatest return of the investment, he said.
Meanwhile, RDRRMC-02 has started is massive conduct of earthquake and tsunami drills to further strengthen the preparation and mitigation whenever calamities will strike.
RDRRMC-02 has conducted series of earthquake drills in different schools, hospitals business establishments in the region. (SCDilan/PNA)
