Roxas commends
disaster-ready LGUs, calls on mayors to build better, safer
communities
DILG Press Release
July 19, 2014
QUEZON CITY –
Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas today lauded local
officials who worked round the clock in leading their constituents to
safer grounds before the onslaught of typhoon Glenda, saying their
efforts were responsible for low casualty rate during the calamity.
“Binabati ko ang mga lokal
na opisyal sa kanilang maagap na pagtugon sa panawagan ng ating
pamahalaan na maging handa laban sa ano mang uri ng kalamidad. Ang
mababang bilang ng casualty ay isang indikasyon na tayo ay unti unti
nang nagiging handa,” said Roxas, who is vice chairman for
preparedness of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (NDRRMC) said.
At the same time, Roxas
expressed sympathy to families and friends of the fatalities who
according to latest NDRRMC count has reached 51.
“Ako po ay nakikiramay sa
mga kababayan natin na nawalan ng mahal sa buhay at patuloy po tayo na
nanawagan sa ating local government units na kumilos para hindi lang
paigtingin ang kanilang mga disaster risk reduction plans kundi para
gawing mas maayos at mas ligtas ang mga komunidad na kanilang
nasasakupan,” the DILG chief said.
Roxas said that “one death
is one too many” and local government units (LGUs) should work harder
to achieve the “zero casualty” target of the NDRRMC, of which local
DRRMCs are part of.
He cited as an example the
Provincial Government of Albay which again achieved “zero casualty”
owing to its effective disaster risk reduction and management plan
that was put into place by the local officials and the people in
so-called disaster-prone areas.
The disaster-readiness of
Albay and other LGUs in the Bicol area, he said, is something worth
emulating.
Last Monday, Roxas
distributed to members of the League of Municipality of the
Philippines – Luzon Cluster the LGU Disaster Preparedness Journal - A
Checklist of Minimum Actions for Mayors prepared by the DILG to serve
as guide to local chief executives to help them prepare against the
impact of climate change-triggered natural calamities.
According to Roxas, LGUs are
mandated by Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Act of 2010 as “first responder” to ensure
the safety and resiliency of communities in facing the challenges of
disasters.
The “Checklist of Minimum
Actions for Mayors” calls for the creation of the local disaster risk
reduction management structures and systems to be mobilized before,
during and after natural calamities; institutionalize policies and
plans; enhance competency of the structures through various trainings;
and compliment the competency by purchasing and preparing the needed
hardware and supplies.