Civil Defense assists Mangaldan on its fight vs. disaster

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – The mayor here said that the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Region 1 sponsored a seminar for contingency preparation of this flood prone town.

RELIEF DISTRIBUTION. Mangaldan, Pangasinan Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno
led the distribution of relief goods to his constituents after a typhoon lashed the town.

The three days seminar was held last May 6 to 8 at Brentwood Apartelle, Baguio City.
According to the Local Government Code of 1991, local government units all over the country are expected to be at the forefront of emergency reaction in the aftermath of disasters to ensure the general welfare of its constituents.
“OCD will cover the cost of meals and accommodation. Program and activity will start at 9:00 AM on May 6, 2015. OCD Training Staff will further coordinate with your office relative to this matter,” OCD Regional Director Melchito M. Castro said on the letter he sent to Mayor Parayno.
Many department heads and members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) attended the seminar, according to this town’s new Budget Office Chief Julieta C. Petonio.
The role of the national government through the OCD is, according to Republic Act No. 10121, to develop, promote, and implement a comprehensive National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) that aims to strengthen the capacity of the national government and the local government units, together with partner stakeholders, to build the disaster resilience of communities, and’ to institutionalize arrangements and measures for reducing disaster risks, including projected climate risks, and enhancing disaster preparedness and response capabilities at all levels.
RA No. 10121 is an act strengthening the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system, providing  for the national disaster risk reduction and management framework and institutionalizing the national disaster risk reduction and management plan, appropriating funds therefor for other purposes.