Pangasinan maps out proactive disaster preparedness plan

• Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/411468385781/pangasinan-maps-out-proactive-disaster-preparedness-plan
• Friday, July 15, 2016

By VENUS MAY H. SARMIENTO (JNPD/VHS/PIA-1Pangasinan)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 15 (PIA) – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDDRMC) of Pangasinan has lined-up several activities that will be pursued not only in observance of the disaster consciousness month this July but throughout the year.

Gov. Amado I. Espino III, also the PDRRMC chairman, said apart from the council, the provincial government is also geared towards strengthening villages and families which are the core groups of the society.

As the former president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, Espino said he plans to lead a risk assessment of hazard-prone barangays through survey and profiling. He said the multi-purpose L-300 vans which were distributed to the barangays will be used especially during disasters.

“’Yung mga multi-purpose vehicles na pinamahagi noon sa mga barangays ay hindi lang pang-travel service but also for disaster preparedness. We experienced that when disasters come, isang problema ay ang pag- clear ng daan para makarating ang tulong, resources at goods, and the vehicles will serve that purpose,” the governor said in an interview.

Col. Rhodyn Oro, chief of the Pangasinan DRRM Office, said aside from the profiling and survey for the risk assessment, activities to strengthen the barangays include the establishment of Pangasinan Alliance of Rescue Volunteers (PARV), ‘Langoy para Mabuhay’- a swimming training for residents of coastal municipalities, project Noah mentoring and the distribution of the 1:10,000 hazard maps to cities and municipalities.

Oro said the governor also approved the plan to hold a Family Preparedness Summit or the Listong Pamilyang Pilipino program.

A GeoCloud project with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) is also in the works. GeoCloud is an integrated geographic information system that will mainly help in the advancement of disaster prevention.

Also, when communication and networks fail during disasters, two-way radio comes in handy prompting the PDRRMC to undertake a convergence of two-way radio owners with the help of DeltaCom, a private group and an active member of the council.