DILG 13 to push disaster preparedness activity on June 26

Friday 8th of June 2012

BUTUAN CITY, June 8 (PIA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region XIII-Caraga will conduct a region-wide TAPATAN on Disaster Preparedness on June 26, at Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, Butuan City with the presence of Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.

Invited to this region-wide activity are the local chief executives (LCEs) in the region, regional line agencies (RLAs), disaster risk reduction and management officers, local government information officers, quad-media, academe, regional stakeholders, and the DILG family.

The highlights of TAPATAN are Secretary Robredo’s call to action - to be prepared in times of disasters, and the signing of the pledge of commitment of the participants to manifest their firm resolve to place priority for their local disaster risk reduction management and climate change adaptation plans and initiatives. This includes the awarding of Performance Challenge Funds checks to recipient local government units (LGUs) and the memorandum of agreement signing of SALINTUBIG Project to Waterless Municipalities and Waterless Barangays in the region.

The region-wide activity also aims to develop a culture of preparedness among LGUs and local communities so that we will be able to respond more effectively to disasters and mitigate the adverse impacts of every calamity that may occur in our midst.

This is pursuant to Republic Act 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which emphasizes the urgency and significance of placing disaster preparedness on top of the priority development agenda of LGUs and Memorandum Circular 2010-143 dated December 9, 2010, which directs the strengthening of LGU capability, particularly the disaster risk reduction and management councils to prepare for disasters.

This is one of the series of the nationwide activities of the Department to promote disaster preparedness in the local level. (NCLM/Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa/DILG XIII/PIA-Caraga)