The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), has laid down plans in strengthening its disaster preparedness by clearly identifying each agency’s role, thereby strengthening their ranks in the process. PDRRMC chair Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, despite his heavy schedule, still found time to discuss with members possible scenarios that could happen while each agency laid on the table every mitigating factor they could contribute should any disaster or calamity occur. Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II, Action Officer for Peace and Security, and the most able hand behind TaRSIER 117, and Glenn Doloritos, carefully guided council members in identifying their respective roles in every possible situation during a two-day workshop.

“We’ve noticed that each agency would be more effective if they are given the choice to focus on their respective areas of expertise,” Doloritos informed the governor. Hence, the restructuring of each committee of the council with the specific aim of fitting each calamity or disaster to each agency’s specific field of expertise. Subsequently, discussion results which laid bare the council’s plans, which were mass seconded and approved by council members were then presented to Gov. Chatto. Chatto, who just came home from Manila from the 45 th Annual Conference of Governors of the Asian Development Bank as speaker for Tourism, informed the council that said meeting highlighted the need to really prepare for climate change and pushed for every nation to look at disaster mitigation programs and disaster preparedness strategies to combat the imminent ill effects of Mother Nature’s dilemma.

Worldwide disasters and calamities which continue to strike unexpectedly at random nations have put climate change awareness and adaptation at the top of the list as a global concern. “What is more challenging is how to put the plan on the ground,” Chatto challenged each member agency during the PDRRMC meeting. “Are we really prepared? Up to what extent is our preparedness?” Chatto further posed these questions which gave each council member more in-depth examination of their respective resources. The recent adoption of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Reservist Group of the Provincial Government of Bohol’s (PGBh) TaRSIER 117, which stands for Telephone and Radio Systems Integrated Emergency Response, Bohol’s Quick Response Unit (QRU) designed to respond to emergencies and to mitigate the effects of calamities, a very important milestone in Bohol’s history, has added to the Province’s strength as an important aid in risk reduction. “This apparent expression of brotherhood between the Reservists and the TaRSIERs will not only serve as an example of cooperation among Boholanos but also as a wake-up call for everyone signifying mutual aid and teamwork among nations to protect Mother Earth from falling into the abyss of destruction and nothingness,” Chatto emotionally stated; a most meaningful statement collaborated by all present during the meeting. (jlv/EDCom)