DILG Sec to lead 1st reg'l summit on disaster preparedness in E. Visayas

By Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

Monday 11th of June 2012

PALO, Leyte, June 11 (PIA) -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo will arrive in Eastern Visayas region on Monday, June 11, to keynote the regional summit on disaster in Eastern Visayas.

DILG-8 director Pedro A. Noval Jr. said that the activity is the region’s edition of the Tapatan Roadshow which is set to be conducted nationwide by the DILG to advocate and institutionalize the concept of disaster preparedness among local government units all over the country.

The summit will be from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon of June 11 at the DPWH Multi-Purpose Hall in Palo, Leyte, the Tapatan aims to harness commitment of local government units (LGUs) to formulate and implement Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Plans; ensure establishment of DRRM offices; and to clarify the roles of everyone regarding disaster preparedness.

A press conference will be held at the Philippine National Police Regional Office-8 Conference Room from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., right after the Flag-Raising ceremonies.

Robredo will then proceed to the Department of Public Works and Highways Multi-Purpose Hall, Palo, Leyte to speak before local officials and other stakeholders in the Tapatan on Disaster Preparedness.

The regional forum, with the tagline, “Magtapatan Tayo: Handa Na Ba Kayo?” is expected to gather together not only the Local Chief Executives but also the respective LGU DRRM officers; member agencies of the Regional DRRM Council; media; as well as civil society organizations and private organizations with advocacies on DRRM.

This activity, in line with Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, is one of the DILG’s responses to the clamor of different sectors of society to strengthen the disaster preparedness efforts of LGUs following the occurrence of various calamities in many parts of the country recently.

Among the highlights include an Interfacing with Secretary Robredo and the distribution of checks to seven municipalities which were awarded in the second round of the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) last 2011.

Another highlight is the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with 20 LGUs that are recipients of the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig (SALINTUBIG) program.

An important part of the activity is the signing of the usufruct contract with the provincial government of Leyte on the use of the lot where the DILG regional office and the DILG Leyte provincial offices are located.

At the end of the activity, summit participants are expected to sign a pledge of commitment for disaster preparedness to show their firm resolution to carry out their local disaster risk reduction and management plans. (EOT-PIA8)