LGUs told to review disaster preparedness plans

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas has called on all local government units (LGUs) in the region to review their respective disaster contingency plans.

Lawyer Rene Burdeos, DILG-7 director, said there is a need to revisit the local disaster plans to further strengthen disaster and response operations of the LGUs.

He said LGUs must be prepared to avoid injuries and casualties, as well as damage to properties, especially with the onset of rainy season.

“They should main-stream their DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management) plan… it should be aligned to resiliency,” he said.

This is in line with the National Disaster Consciousness Month, which is observed every July by virtue of Executive Order No. 137 signed on August 10, 1999 by then  president Joseph Estrada.

Burdeos said the government is now focusing its efforts on building “resilient” communities by strengthening LGUs’ plans and approaches in managing disasters— both natural and man-made.

The country is prone to natural disasters due to its geographical location. In the Visayas region, two calamities in 2013 that made huge impact were the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the provinces of Bohol and Cebu, and super typhoon Yolanda. (FREEMAN)