LGUs urged: Create civilian volunteers

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has directed all municipalities and component cities in the province to organize civilian volunteers to assist in the relief and rescue operations during disasters and calamities.

The provincial government will sponsor a one-month training to be conducted by the 7th Regional Community Defense Group, Area Reserve Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Garcia said that the offer to spearhead the trainings in coordination with the Office of the Civil Defense is beneficial to the interest of the Cebuanos.

As proposed, the trainings shall be conducted in the respective cities and municipalities of the Province of Cebu.

Garcia said that participants shall be composed of volunteer citizens of good moral character such as the barangay tanods, bantay dagat members, graduates of Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), retired or honorably discharged personnel of the AFP, Philippine National Police and the defunct Philippine Constabulary.

The trainings shall be on the disaster relief and rescue operations, fire prevention and suppression; fight against illegal drugs and illegal fishing; environmental protection; maintenance of peace and order; and other related socio-economic activities.

Garcia issued Executive Order No. 02 directing all Local Government Units in the province and their officials to actively promote and participate in the Community Defense Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Trainings (CDDRRMT).

The law creates a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in every province to be headed by the Governor.

One of the functions is to organize and conduct training, orientation and knowledge management activities on disaster risk reduction and management at the local level. — (FREEMAN)