In its bid to step up its preparedness for disasters, the Davao del Norte provincial government has acquired two units of rubber boats worth P1.8 million.
Provincial administrator Rufo Peligro said the government can now respond better to calls for assistance in case of water-related disasters.
The province is known as a flood-prone area where flood waters are triggered by swollen rivers, even reaching the highway in the 1980s.
Flashfloods occurred in the province at the onset of this year due to intermittent rains, affecting seven municipalities—three of which respectively declared a state of calamity.
Following the state of calamity declaration of the municipalities of Sto. Tomas, New Corella and Talaingod, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Davao del Norte declared the province on January 10 under the same state.
But Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) secretariat head Arlene Semblante revealed that the funds used to purchase the rubber boats were part of last year’s disaster preparedness fund.
Aside from the rubber boats, Semblante bared the purchase of rain gauges which had been set up in each of the towns and cities of the province, also made use of last year’s disaster fund.
Semblante has seen the need to buy more rain gauges to closely monitor the magnitude of rainfall as a way of preparing for flashflood.
“We can allow to buy more based on needs. If the council sees the need to buy certain equipment, then we will do so,” Peligro said.
Meanwhile, Peligro also has seen the need to buy units of rescue vehicle to respond to land-based disaster.
This could be aside from the two units of ambulance due to be delivered to the province.
He also is looking at the need to purchase more food stuff which could be immediately released during relief operation.
Though Peligro has not seen the need to put up a separate office for PDRRMC, he considers it important to establish a system of coordination and communication among concerned groups involved in rescue operation especially the Radio Room, the disaster management center lodged at the office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD), and the volunteers.
Semblante explained that the Republic Act 10121 known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010” mandates the setting up of a separate disaster and risk management council office. [PIA 11/JEAN DURON-ABANGAN]
