The local governments of Occidental Mindoro and San Miguel, Leyte, have received an award for their unwavering efforts in making their community prepared for any disaster or calamity that might occur.
Interviewed during DILG sa DZRH Breaktime, Occidental Mindoro Gov. Eduardo Gadiano proudly presented how they implemented the Department of Interior and Local Government's (DILG's)' Operation Listo.
Operation Listo is an advocacy initiated by the DILG through the Local Government Academy in building and strengthening the alertness and readiness of the Local Government Units (LGUs) in responding to disasters.
"Ang ating ginagawa sa ganitong sitwasyon [kalamidad] ang ating mga kababayan at ating gobyerno ay nagtutulungan. Yung pre-disaster assessment natin kita na kaagad natin kung ano yung posibleng mangyare at sa Rapid Disaster Assessment tsaka Needs Analysis kita na rin natin kaagad kung ano yung ating mga kailangan ng ating mga kababayan," said Gadiano.
"'Yung Operation listo kasi kasama dito ang mga national government agencies at mga lokal na pamahalaan nagtutulong-tulong kung ano yung mga nakita nating mga risk at needs analysis," he added.
Gadiano also recognized the efforts of the community's volunteers by supporting them with equipment and proper training for emergency response.
Aside from this, the LGU is also providing Kusina ng Lalawigan, Mobile Wash with a comfort room and portable water system, patient transport vehicles, and many more things that could help people in emergencies.
"Doon pa lang sa pagdating ng bagyo alam na kaagad natin yung gagawin natin, ganoon kaprepared dito sa Occidental Mindoro," said the governor.
The province of Occidental Mindoro received Seal and Special Awards for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance during the 23rd Gawad Kalasag.
Also an awardee of the same recognition, San Miguel Leyte Mayor Norman Sabdao shared how their community responds to calamities as their area is known as a water catch basin and flood-prone area.
"We adhere to the established standards set sa Operation Listo na ipinalabas po ng Department of Interior and Local Government. Dito po sa bayan namin meron pong established and functional na local disaster risk reduction management council hindi lamang sa munisipyo, pati rin sa mga barangay," Sabado noted.
To strengthen the campaign towards disaster awareness and resilience, Sabdao said its LGU intensified its competence in the management system in the four essential areas of disaster.
"Una ang mga pagbaha at sunod ang landslides, iyan ang top two hazards namin sa aming bayan dahil kami ay nasa gilid ng dagat at bundok," said Sabadao. However, due to Operation Listo's preventive and evacuation plan, there have been no reported cases since Typhoon Yolanda.
"Sa pamamagitan po ng collaboration natin sa government, particularly po sa Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), and to the office of the speaker, na siya rin po yung kinatawan po namin sa first district ng Leyte, yung San Miguel Leyte naging recepient po mula noong naupo po ako bilang alkalde hanggang ngayon na umaabot na po ito ng sobrang P1 billion pesos na flood control project," the mayor remarked.
Sabdao said that the flooding as the main problem during the rainy season has gradually lessened due to the flood control plan.
The LGU also coordinated with the OCD to provide all the personnel in barangays and municipalities with basic and advanced training on disaster management, also called the Incident Command System.
