N. Cotabato strengthens disaster-response, rescue capabilities

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Wednesday 2nd of May 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, May 2 (PIA) -- The provincial government of North Cotabato is beefing up its capabilities in disaster preparedness and response.

In a report from the office of Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza sent to PIA 12 yesterday, it said that among the major measures under implementation by the provincial government include the installation of a radio communications network that would link all barangays in each of the 18 local government units together as well as establishment of an automatic weather station in Amas, Kidapawan City.

Several infrastructure projects are also underway to strengthen some areas that may be affected by flooding.

Recently, the provincial government bought P16 million worth of rescue equipment. The first batch of equipment have been delivered to the provincial government, and had personally been inspected by Gov. Mendoza.

These comprised of flood water rescue equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE), fire fighting supplies, basic rescue hand tool set and PPE Kit, individual rescuer PPE and rescuer deployment set (RDS), vehicular extraction equipment, high angle rescue equipment, earthquake/collapse equipment, emergency medical supplies, and emergency medical supplies equipment.

With the latest rescue equipment, Gov. Mendoza said, she is confident that rescue agencies and personnel in the province will be able to satisfactorily respond to the challenges of any disaster or calamity and minimize casualties during any emergency.

She added, following the procurement of these life-saving gears and paraphernalia, the provincial government will conduct appropriate trainings on proper handling of these equipment for response teams will be able to effectively perform rescue operations in case floods, landslides, earthquakes or vehicular accidents occur.

“But the ability of our community to combat calamities does not rest solely on the presence of the latest rescue tools,” the governor said. "A vital part of strengthening our rescue and disaster capabilities is to arm our citizens with knowledge in the face of possible crisis.”

Other than these, the provincial government in partnership with the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has already distributed a geo-hazard maps to municipalities in the province.

She said, these geo-hazard maps should be able to forewarn the local officials and the public of the disaster prone areas in their localities and prepare them against disasters.

Large areas of Mlang, Tulunan, Kabacan, Pigcawayan, Midsayap and Aleosan have been classified as low-lying and flood-prone towns and are likely to be submerged when water levels of Liguasan Marsh and its tributaries rise.

Meanwhile, mountain towns of Arakan, Alamada, Magpet and some portions of Matalam, as well as Kidapawan City are identified as landslide-prone areas on the geo-hazard maps.

North Cotabato’s rescue and response capabilities is being financed under the P45-million disaster risk reduction and management fund appropriated through the Provincial Development Council Resolution No. 10 – series of 2011 legislated on September 26 last year. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12)