NEDA-X holds disaster risk reduction confab

By Elaine O. Ratunil

Thursday 2nd of August 2012

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug 2 -- The National Economic and Development Authority of Region X (NEDA-X) conducted a Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Forum on July 31, 2012 this city with the theme: “Knowing our Risks: Towards Safer Communities in Region X.”

NEDA-X Director Leon M. Dacanay said that the one-day forum was part of the culminating activities of the July National Disaster Consciousness Month, which has the overall theme “Ligtas Na Bayan: Maunlad na Pamayanan.” Around a hundred participants from government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, academe and the business sector listened to the presentation of the provincial disaster risk assessment (DRA) reports of the five provinces of the region.

Keynote speaker was the Secretary Juan Romeo Nereus “Neric” O. Acosta, presidential adviser for environmental protection and concurrently general manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority. He gave an impassioned message on the importance of giving ecology primary importance in planning. “Without the forest, there is no watershed, no watershed-no water, no water – no hydroelectricity, no hydroelectricity – no economy. Economy can only be possible if there is ecology. It is ecology that gives money, investment and priority.”

The DRA is one of the deliverables of NEDA’s project Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)/Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in Local Development Planning. Director Dacanay presented the project’s framework for mainstreaming DRR/CCA. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also gave reports on their projects and initiatives on DRR/CCA especially after Tropical Storm (TS) Sendong. Presentors were Dr. Esperanza O. Cayanan, Raymond Thaddeus C. Angcog, and Engr. Efren A. Berba, respectively.

NEDA-X Assistant Regional Director Fe D. Domingo said the project aims to complete the mainstreaming of DRR/CCA into the Provincial/Regional Physical Framework Plans and the cities’ Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) by early 2013. (Peleta B. Abejo/KMD/NRO-X/PIA10)