Disaster Management Forum
IPP Ruby Reyes, RC Suburban East Rizal

    What started out as a series of pocket meetings on Disaster Management with District 3800 Gov. Jun Farcon, DDMC Chair Louie Ticman and Co-Chair PP Gene Gonzaga with the different Area Coordinators and respective allies of District 3800 culminated into a signing of MOU on Aug. 28, 2010 at the Valle Verde Club during the DDMC Forum. The purpose of the MOU was to establish alliance and partnership with agencies involved on disaster management, particularly the National Disaster Coordinating Council or NDCC. NDCC is the national government agency that is primarily tasked with the responsibility of formulating, developing and recommending policies and programs on disaster management and the local disaster coordinating councils. Other strategical partners are the PNP, the Barangays and the Phil. Red Cross.

    RI District 3800 covers 3 major areas, namely: (with respective area Coordinators) 1) Northern Manila area or CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) - PP Tommy Cua/PP Tony Joson; 2) Eastern Metro Manila comprising of Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Marikina - PP Boyet Coronel; and 3) Rizal Province - CP Mel Felix.

    On the other end, PNP’s counterpart is represented by the ff: 1) Northern Police District - P/Sr. Supt. Edgardo Ladao; 2) Eastern Police District - P/C Supt. Francisco Manalo, Jr.; and 3) Rizal PPO - P/Sr. Supt. Manuel Prieto. The Phil. Red Cross was represented by: 1) Pres. Elmer Espiritu of RC East Rizal who is also the Governor of PRC, Rizal Chapter; and 2) Geraldine Repollo, Administrator, Rizal Chapter. The NDCC and the OCD were also represented.

    Future activities of the 3 groups: 1) Crafting of protocol/s to be observed by partners; 2) Training / seminars; and 3) Regular monthly meetings; hosting will be on rotation basis; resource persons from agencies of consequence shall be invited to promote the DDMC’s projects and programs on disaster risk reduction.

    The partners shall have the following advocacies in order to help address and reduce the risks during disasters: 1) Define the role of each partner in dealing with crisis situation; 2) Strengthen ties among the key partners on disaster management; 3) Strengthen the capabilities of search and rescue team; 4) Educate individuals and the communities on proper waste control and management; 5) Proper zoning or urbanization; and 6) Rehabilitation and declogging of canals.