Metro Manila mayors, NGA officials meet on disaster preparedness

Friday 13th of July 2012

QUEZON CITY, July 13 (PIA) -- Local chief executives of Metro Manila and national government agency officials converged Thursday for a regional-wide forum on disaster preparedness and climate change, with the rules on classes and work suspension due to typhoons and other calamities topping the agenda.

Dubbed as “Tapatan Roadshow on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation,” the forum held at SMX Convention Center Mall of Asia in Pasay City was spearheaded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in coordination with the DILG-NCR office.

President Benigno S. Aquino III was guest of honor and speaker.

During the event, announcement for the cancellation or suspension of classes in Metro Manila due to typhoons, flooding and heavy rains under Executive Order 66, were discussed thoroughly with concerned local officials.

In a statement posted on the DILG website, it said the provision of EO 66 became a controversial issue last week when Metro Manila local officials failed to make the necessary announcement after heavy rains flooded some areas in the metropolis.

Section 2 of said EO provides that in the absence of typhoon signal warnings, localized cancellation or suspension of classes and work in government offices may be implemented by local chief executives as chairmen of local disaster risk reduction management councils (DRRMC).

Aside from EO 66, other topics discussed during the forum include disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, disaster response, rehabilitation and recovery.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) also presented their disaster risk reduction initiatives, while the cities of Pasig, Quezon, Marikina and Makati exhibited their respective good practices on disaster preparedness.

The NCR Tapatan is the 13th regional forum to be conducted by DILG nationwide, and is in line with Republic Act 10121, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which emphasizes the significance of placing disaster preparedness on top of the priority agenda of LGUs, and Memorandum Circular 2010-143, which directs the strengthening of LGU capacity, particularly local DRRMCs to prepare for disasters.

Among the national government officials who attended the activity include Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas III, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Undersecretary Benito Ramos.

Also present were Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto, Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri, and Acting Malabon City Mayor Lenlen Oreta.

Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines president and Mindoro Oriental Governor Alfonso Umali Jr., barangay officials of Metro Manila, local chief executives of Region III high risk areas around the Pampanga river basin, NCR-Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officers, representatives from civil society organizations and non-government Organizations also attended the forum. (DILG/RJB/JCP/PIA NCR)