BASCOMNET, 104Bde Army hold forum on DRRM for communicators

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 29): BASCOMNET, 104Bde Army hold forum on DRRM for communicators
 

The Basilan Communicators Network Inc. (BASCOMENT) and the 104th Bridage Philippine Army held a seminar-forum on Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) for communicators recently.

As part of the observance of National Disaster Consciousness Month of July, some 50 government and non-government information officers, communicators, and heads of offices participated in the one-day seminar-forum that aims to orient communicators on disaster preparedness and response, especially in terms of communication.

Myrna J. Angot, acting executive director of RDRRMC-ARMM and OIC of the Office of Civil Defense-ARMM challenged the communicators to find their space and determine their role in communicating disaster, in preparedness and response.

Angot introduced to the participants the Philippine Disaster Risk profile, giving them an overview of why the country is prone to calamities and disasters. She said that based on history, the country has been hit by major disasters.

“The Philippines is vulnerable to almost all types of natural hazards because of its geographic location,” she said, adding that the country also sits in the Pacific ring of fire and Pacific typhoon belt that every Filipino should bear in mind.

For communicators, she said these two realities must remain always in the consciousness in order to keep them on their toes whenever calamities and disasters strike.

Moreover, Angot reminded the participants that climate change has aggravated the situation and enhanced extreme weather events like typhoon, flooding, tsunamis, monsoon rains, landslides, and flashfloods, among others.

Abou Mohammad Asmawil, officer in-charge of the provincial office of the Department of Interior and Local Government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DILG-ARMM) introduced Operation Listo to the mayors and the local government units (LGUs) aimed at encouraging widespread disaster preparedness consciousness among every citizen down in the barangays.

“LGUs are in the frontline to respond to any disaster, as mandated by law. LGUs are the most familiar with their terrain and resources, and are the ones that interact directly with citizens,” he said.

With this mandated, the mayors are expected to be on alert and lead the community in all preparations and response activities to make them resilient.

The DILG official, however, noticed that poor governance delays or hampers the full potential of the LGUs to prepare for worst-case scenarios. He admitted that the local DILG is also limited in terms of resources to monitor and capacitate the LGUs.

With the Operation Listo program, the DILG hopes that the mayors will make good use of the tool provided in the manual in aligning and improving the LGUs unique plans and preparations.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Basilan introduced the participants on how to efficiently utilize social media in information dissemination in crisis and disaster situation.

The recent seminar-forum was made possible with the support of the 104th Brigade Phillippine Army, headed by Brigade Commander Col. Rolando Joselito D. Bautista.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1421438069443/bascomnet-104bde-army-hold-forum-on-drrm-for-communicators