BATANGAS CITY – Some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Batangas will now form part of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) following the proposed amendment of the Provincial Ordinance No.001 series 2011 in addition to government agencies, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and the private sector as regular members of the disaster management body.
Jenilyn A. Aguillera, Batangas provincial public information office chief disclosed on Saturday that the inclusion of the CSOs in the PDRRMC was tackled during a joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Development Council (PDC) and Association of Barangay Captains (ABCs) at the Provincial Capitol Cooperative Center on Thursday.
Aguillera said the PDRRMO chief Joselito Castro presented the PDRRMC’s proposal for the CSO membership, priority projects and programs for 2018 before the joint council members.
The expanded PDRRMC includes the Provincial Persons With Disability (PWD) Affairs Office for the government sector; non-government organization (NGO) engaged in community communications network like the Kabalikat Civicom; Koop ng mga Kawani ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Batangas (provincial employees cooperative); Batangas Alay Lakad Foundation Inc. and the Batangas Coastal Resource Management Foundation Inc. for the civil society;
Batangas State University for the SUCs and academe and power service providers MERALCO, BATELEC I and II for the private sector.
Officials said that the expansion of the PDRRMC membership is vital as “the safety and security is everybody’s concern and any disaster or calamity could affect various sectors.”
They said that the inclusion of the CSOs, academe and private sector could strengthen the council’s coordination, communication, collaboration, cooperation and convergence when a disaster or calamity strikes.
Castro also explained the PDRRMO’s utilization and proposed expenditure of the 70 percent of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for 2018.
Governor Hermilando Mandanas, who presided the joint meeting, and council members also approved the PDRRMO’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan 2017-2022.
According to Castro, the Batangas PDRRMO will also intensify its capacity-building and skills training and know-how through effective utilization of the Local Disaster Fund.
He said the fund is being used to cover the training, workshops and drills for disaster management personnel and emergency responders; acquisition of modern equipment and other activities on disaster risk reduction, preparedness and management. (PNA)
