By AMIELA T. SINGCO-BALABA

JAGNA – Sixteen identified high risk barangays of the town participated in a DRRM Planning Workshop last December 7-9 at the Capt. Gregorio “Goyo” Casenas Hall. Implemented by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in coordination with the GIFT Project of the Bohol Integrated Development Foundation Inc. (BIDEF) the 16 barangays called to participate were Can-uba, Ipil, Cantagay, Bunga Mar, Can-upao, Looc, Pagina, Poblacion, Pangdan, Nausok, Larapan, Tubod Mar, Naatang, Alejawan, Mayana and Laca. These barangays were identified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and GeoSciences Bureau. Objectives set for the planning workshop were: to consolidate the contingency plans of the BLGU as component of Comprehensive Municipal DRRM Plan; to conduct Participatory Capacity and Vulnerability Assessment (PCVA) for budget prioritization in the 70% of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund; to consolidate the programs and projects of every department of the LGU related to DRR and allocate funds from LDRRM Fund; and to formulate the comprehensive DRRM Plan of the Municipality.

Participants were punong barangays and designated barangay DRRM Action Officers of the sixteen barangays and selected MDRRMC members. The comprehensive planning and workshop lasted for three days. Topics discussed were Orientation on RA 10121, Understanding Hazards and DRRM Models; Participatory Capacity and Vulnerability Assessment; Presentation of Community Risk Assessment and its Local Risk Patterns; Review of MDRRMC structures; Review of PCVA and Contingency Plans of BLGUs; Workshop on Municipal DRRM Planning; and Legislation. Forrester Antonio Balang, DRRM consultant, was the speaker. Facilitators of the workshops were BIDEF’s Elrond Pido and Francis Batoy.