The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is accelerating the completion of the study for the proposed establishment of the Mindanao Disaster Resiliency Resource Center (MDRRC).
MinDA chair Secretary Leo Tereso Magno on Wednesday said that the facility will serve as a dedicated complex type of disaster resource center for warehouse storage for relief goods, a hub for disaster preparedness, mitigation, early response and recovery management and operation strategically located at the center of Mindanao.
The plan includes the building of temporary hospitals and clinics, the storage of a minimum of 200,000 food packs that are prepared for distribution at any moment, the launch of helicopters as required, and the deployment of mobile units.
“It is now a reality na tinatamaan ang ibang parte ng BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), tinamaan ang Misamis, tinamaan ang Butuan, ang Davao Oriental, eastern part ng Mindanao. Ano nga ang realidad na hinaharap natin ngayon? Because of climate change and various reasons,” Magno said in a press conference during the opening of the 1st Mindanao Youth Convergence on Disaster Resilience and Sustainability held at The Ritz Hotel in Davao City on Wednesday.
Magno said there is also a need to review the disasters that hit Mindanao.
“This is something that we need. Talagang kailangan natin ito para mas mabilis ang pag responde at mag train tayo ng mga tao, may tamang coordination at may direction ang disaster response natin. Necessity is a mother of invention, ibig sabihin when the need to something becomes imperative, kung hindi mo na maiiwasan yung pangyayari, you are force to find ways of achieving that is our inspiration for coming up with this. Let’s face it tinatamaan na tayo ng mga disasters, we cannot stop climate change,” Magno said.
He also said that in the future, MinDA will also partner with other government agencies in the operation of the center.
Magno said he is yet to determine the exact amount needed for the establishment of the center.
“Kung kasama ang cost ng lupa, magbago ang amount, kaso may nagdonate. Ang kailangan lang natin dito ay ma-establish ang lugar at pagtutulungan naming ng ibang ahensiya para mahanapan ng pondo sa pagpatayo ng building,” he said.
With the establishment of the center, MinDA is expecting that it will lead to a stronger and better-prepared Mindanao through efficient information sharing and synchronized disaster management throughout the region.
