Province set to sign pact on disaster plans

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol is ready to sign a memorandum of agreement between the National Economic Development Authority on the formulation of Disaster Risk Reduction/Climate Change Adaptation-Enhanced Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plans.

The Cebu Provincial Board has already passed the resolution sponsored by Board Member Thadeo Ouano authorizing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to sign the agreement.

Garcia has yet to schedule the signing of the said agreement with NEDA.

NEDA, through the Regional Development Coordination staff, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program and the Australian Agency for International Development, is implementing the project “Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Local Development Planning and Decision-making Process” on the Integrating DRRC/CCA project.

The project aims to mainstream the integrated concerns of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into the Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plans.

Administrative Order No. 1 issued on September 17, 2010 directed local government units, particularly provinces, to adapt and use Guidelines and NEDA to conduct capability-building activities for planning offices at the local, regional and national levels.

One of the project deliverables is the Technical Assistance to provinces on the formulation of the DRR/CCA-enhanced plans.

The Province of Cebu needs the said technical assistance to strengthen their capability in formulating their enhanced plans. — (FREEMAN)