WFP helps institutionalize disaster preparedness program

By Benilda A. Recebido

Tuesday 12th of February 2013

SORSOGON CITY, Feb. 12 (PIA) -- United Nations World Food Program (WFP) project coordinator Michelle McGonagle will be in Sorsogon today for a three-day visit, institutionalizing the Disaster Preparedness and Response (DPR) Program in the province to build resilient communities, boosting the capacity of its government, academe and non-government partners.

McGonagle initially met with officials of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), local chief executives and municipal DRRM officers of four highly vulnerable areas of Sorsogon and its various stakeholders. This was to determine the progress of the WFP-supported DPR program implemented in Juban, Irosin, Casiguran, and Sta. Magdalena.

PDRRMO Chief Raden Dimaano said the stakeholder’s meeting will help identify plan of actions for the remaining project timeline, address gaps and provide information to key stakeholders on DPR initiatives in the area aside from determining the status of the DPR project implementation.

“Likewise, the municipal DRRM officers will be given an orientation and discussion on the radio communication protocol, and will be given the opportunity to have consultation with the WFP’s project coordinator,” he added.

Sorsogon is one of the many areas covered by the WFP’s DPR Program being implemented in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior Local Government (DILG), Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the provincial and local governments.

WFP, the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, launched Phase II of its program in September last year. It was dubbed as, “Technical Support to the Government of the Philippines for Disaster Preparedness and Response,” and is implemented in four identified disaster-prone areas of Sorsogon.

For Sorsogon, WFP tapped the expertise of Bicol University in working with the target local government units, communities and families to come up with appropriate family disaster plans and preparedness kits. It also tapped the Green Valley Development Inc. (GVDI) in advancing innovative DPR activities and in promoting best practices.

Phase II of the DPR Program includes organizing information and education campaigns for communities on the risks they face and training local government units on using geographic information systems to enhance preparedness and response planning.

Gov. Raul R. Lee said, “Sorsogon is highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, landslides and volcanic eruptions, and this vulnerability is one among the major challenges the province is facing. The DPR project which strengthens capacities of the first responders is a big help to Sorsogon communities to make them better prepare for, respond to natural disasters and eventually save lives and properties.”

The WFP allotted over P20 million for the program while its partners, the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) and the Australian Aid Agency (AusAID) contributed over P10 million in support to the initiative. (MAL/BAR-PIA5, Sorsogon)