Provincial-LGU, NGO conducts 4-day community-based DRR planning/workshop for high risks barangays in Sorsogon

News Release

Provincial-LGU, NGO conducts 4-day community-based DRR planning/workshop for high risks barangays in Sorsogon

By: Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon City, March 22 (PIA) – A four-day live-in Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Contingency Planning/ Workshop for members of Barangay Development Council/Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Committee has formally started at El Retiro Brgy. Cabid-an, this city, on March 21 and is set to finish on March 24, Thursday.

Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Management Office (SPRDMO) Information Officer Von Labalan said that the planning-workshop was organized by the provincial government of Sorsogon through the PDRMO in partnership with the Green Valley Development Program/World Vision, an active combined non-government forces that have long been partners of the government in its disaster response efforts.

“Some 70 participants from ten barangays that are considered vulnerable to various hazards including Embarcadero and Binanhuan in Juban town, Timbayog and Sumalot in Casiguran, Pili and Hubo in Magallanes, San Eugenio and La Espreranza in Santa Magdalena, and Gimaloto and Cabarbuhan in Sorsogon City including their respective Municipal Information Officers joined the said planning-workshop to make themselves equipped with well-built capacities, preparedness and strategies appropriate in giving response every time calamities occur,” said Labalan.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member and Climate Change Adaptation Chairman Honorable Benito Doma in his opening message assured the participants of the availability of the government to assist affected communities. “However, nothing is best but for each community to know how to stand independently every after a calamity and not at all times dependent to the government,” he stressed out.

Phivolcs Bicol resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta also shared his expertise and ardently discussed the importance of early warning to avert further damage to life and properties. He also presented the Philippine Vulnerability Map showing the geographically prone areas to typhoons, volcanic activities and tsunamis including active faults and trenches specifically in the Bicol region and discuss as well, important facts about earthquakes and its destructive effects.

Laguerta also explained why there are areas that are hardly hit by volcanic explosions and the scientific details of Mt. Bulusan’s recent activities, as well as the necessary precautions that affected residents must do.

Jun Pantoja of Juban DOST-Pagasa synoptic station, meanwhile, said that bad weather condition is but a natural phenomenon. “It will happen and no one can stop it, but we can prepare for it,” he added.

Pantoja discussed the Science of Meteorology that explains weather and climate. “And due to the continuous La Niña episode, it is normal that the country will experience wet summer,” he said.

He also explained to the participants how to forecast weather and the weather causing phenomena such as thunderstorms, lightning, tornado, hail, inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ), cold front, tropical cyclones, south-west and north-east monsoons, low and high pressure weather systems, storm surge and the necessary precautions that should be done.

Issues on global warming and climate change were also discussed by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office through its representative Dante Bonos. “Weather and climate are affected by greenhouse gases and the global warming which is said to be caused by human activities triggers various calamities and disasters, which are now experienced elsewhere in the world,” he said.

At the end of the planning-workshop, participants are expected to make a hazard map and craft a Barangay Disaster Preparedness and Contingency Plans with a clear emergency preparedness, communication and strategic evacuation. (PIA Sorsogon)