Usec. Ramos encourages “bayanihan” during disasters

By Miriam P. Aquino

Thursday 21st of June 2012

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, June 21 (PIA) -- “No one or not one region is exempted or spared from typhoons, earthquake, or any type of disasters.”

National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Undersecretary Benito Ramos said in his message during the conduct of the second quarter earthquake drill here in the province, held June 19.

“It has been a year ago since I last visited Region 1, primarily because there is not much of a problem here in this region and I give part of the commendation to OCD 1 Director Melchito Castro for having handled the Region 1 DRRMC so well, of course with full cooperation from the various council-member agencies and local government units (LGUs),” Ramos said.

“At these times all regions here in the country were affected with disasters of any form, that is why I am encouraging everybody, particularly the DRRRMCs from the regions down to the barangay level to always put into practice the value of Bayanihan or cooperation as this is a very effective way to counter the ill/grave-effects of any type of calamity,” the official emphasized.

He also pointed out that whenever calamities like typhoons, flooding struck in a certain area or municipality or province or even region, the protocol is it should always be the adjacent area which should come in to the rescue, and assist the place at once, with or without any advice or request coming from officials or councils from the affected place. This “bayanihan” system should be observed especially by the LGUs, he added.

“But we should also remember that responders are always at risk of becoming victims, and if this happens, it would result to inefficiency. If it’s a 7.2-8.2 magnitude earthquake, we should remember that millions may die," he said.

If a calamity strikes in a barangay, the barangay captain or the barangay DRRMC is responsible; if two or more barangays are affected, the municipal DRRMC or city mayor is responsible; for municipalities/province, it’s the PDRRMC, and for massive effects the NDRRMC enters, we all have responsibilities, Usec. Ramos explained.

He added that calamities are increasing or happening more frequently as observed, and this is all because of climate change, which is why LGUs should have their respective contingency plans that differ from one another, the official added.

“We just hope that calamities like earthquake, typhoons, and volcanic eruption won’t happen at the same time here in our country, and I am confident that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police will also be prepared for three common scenarios during calamities – looting, panic-buying, and hoarding,” he imparted. (ANL/MPA-PIA 1, La Union)