Lapu-Lapu imports MMDA official to hold disaster drills

CEBU, Philippines -  Rescue and collapse structure techniques were among the trainings performed in the first days of 11-day capability exercises for Lapu-Lapu City's Disaster Action Response Team.

The training, which started Monday, is being administered by Aldo Mayor, chief of Public Safety Department of Metro Manila Development Authority. It will end on December 5.

About 35 members of the city's response group are joining the drills. Tourist police personnel, medical rescuers and selected City Hall staff under the Disaster Management Office are also under the training.

Mayor said water rescue techniques were made part of the trainings since the city is surrounded with water and can be prone to flooding.

While Lapu-Lapu City has water rescue facilities, Mayor said he is yet to evaluate them for recommendations.

Mayor also said the trainings are basically designed for a technician level so that skilled responders could teach rescuers at the barangay level on different techniques in disaster preparedness.

Lapu-Lapu City hosts 30 barangays and each barangay disaster unit, according to Mayor, must be made up of at least eight responders.

Mayor also suggested that the city should put up a local disaster management office that is not bound or co-terminus with political administrations.

"Even if one government administration is finished and another one comes in next, the trained disaster response team should remain," he said.

He also encouraged non-government organizations, commercial establishments and stakeholders to work hand-in-hand in disaster preparedness, calling it "everyone's responsibility."

Meanwhile, Andy Berame, deputy officer of the Disaster Management Office, said they are monitoring the weather bulletin for the newest development on Typhoon Quennie.

"The city does not have mountainous areas and the response teams are ready for the unpredictable weather," Berame said.

Berame said they are constantly monitoring Barangay Ibo as it is prone to floods, as well as water stagnation near Mactan Economic Processing Zone 2.  (FREEMAN)