Negros Occidental disaster office focuses on communication and warning
Negros Occ. (22 October) -- Communication and warning tops the priority activity of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) during times of calamities such as flood and typhoon.
PDMPD Chief Vicfran Defante said it is of utmost importance that the people affected by any calamity, like flooding, be warned in advance so that they are prepared for the worst thing that could happen.
He said the presence of rubber boats, although very important, will have to come later during rescue operations but informing the people of an impending danger ranks the highest.
Right now, the province is proposing that each district should have at least one or two rubber boats as the late Gov. Joseph Maraņon has already provided eight of the item during his term.
Defante told PIA that practically, all LGU areas in the province are prone to flooding except for the municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto which is situated on top of a mountain.
The PDMPD, he said, is concentrating on four program areas for the office to be relevant and effectively functioning. These are: developing access to manpower and resources for the disaster office to be sustainable, information management because information is the basis for decision making, capability training to make rescuers qualified for the job and coordination with other offices and entities. (PIA-LOL) [top]