Philippines: Office of civil defence strengthens disaster management law

Baguio City – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD-CAR) has started implementing Republic Act 10121 or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act of 2010 in the region.

Jojo Valera of the OCD-CAR, in a radio interview announced that with RA 10121, the country already shifted to a pro-active approach in dealing with disasters. Concerned government agencies are working together to advocate for awareness and risk reduction activities down to the local or municipal level to prevent the loss of life and damage to properties that subsequent hazards could bring, be it natural or human induced.

According to Valera, the OCD is currently focused on the conduct of awareness campaign particularly on the strengthening of the Early Warning System dissemination.

He likewise reported that they already installed rain gauges in some barangays in the city.

The rain gauge is a weather instrument designed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)which can measure the volume of rainwater that could help us to decide what we need to do or call for a pre-emptive evacuation during days of continuous or persistent rainfall, Valera said.

The use of rain gauge can be adopted by the different local government units (LGUs) in the region as part of their early warning system (EWS),he added.

Valera explained that as per the recommendation of the Mines and Geo-science of Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in any given area when the said gauge measures 150mm of rainwater within 24 hours or less, the LGU concerned should already call for a pre-emptive evacuation.

Valera also stressed the importance of people or community being vigilant and observant of their environment or surroundings during persistent rainfall especially when there is an advisory of a typhoon as this could give a big advantage in reducing the risk to both life and property.**(MC-PIA CAR)