A model capitol worker and trusted governor's aide is the lone Filipino among the Asian participants to the two-week disaster-focused International Human Resource Development Workshop Program in Taiwan. Anthony Damalerio, executive assistant on constituency services, is privileged to join the working forum running on the theme “National Disaster Prevention and Protection Policy and Practice” in Taipei from August 21 to September 3. An active member of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), Damalerio is the only from the Philippines among the 26 delegates from different Asian nations. Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO-Philippines) Director for Political Division Andrew Lin formally informed and confirmed to Gov. Edgar Chatto the Philippine slot for the young Boholano.

The program aims to share Taiwan's experiences in developing natural disaster prevention and protection policies and practices through indoor lectures, discussion on practical measures, strategic thinking and case studies, Lin said. It delves into current problems and challenges involved in planning and executing disaster prevention and protection policies. Chatto had earlier mentioned to Taiwanese Amb. Raymond Wang Bohol's plan to establish a disaster risk reduction management and climate change adaptation and governance center. The plan is an aftermath of the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake on October 15, 2013, which was the mightiest on record to hit the island-province.

The Taiwan-funded program can help strengthen and capacitate the province's disaster council, according to the governor who cited Damalerio as himself a former provincial disaster risk reduction management officer. Damalerio has attended varied trainings and seminars on disaster risk and climate change organized and conducted by the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), among others.

Damalerio's official trip is paid by the host foreign government thru Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF). Taiwan was among the foreign nations which immediately responded to Bohol earthquake emergencies. The Taiwan-based humanitarian champion Tzu Chi Foundation was also among the earliest to reach out to the victims of the epic calamity, its volunteers already engaging in relief actions in hardest-hit areas four days after the disaster. Chatto and Rep. Rene Relampagos rejoiced upon learning that the Rotary International conferred this year its highest humanitarian honor to the Taiwanese female monk who founded Tzu Chi, the Venerable Dharma Master Cheng Yen.

Bohol's participation thru Damalerio to the Taiwan-offered program is just one of the latest relevant foreign partnerships of the administration of Chatto and Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim. Damalerio, a master in public administration, is also currently the chief of the Local Government Affairs (LGA) of the provincial government. He will leave for Taiwan on Tuesday and return timely for Bohol's hosting of what Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II on Friday announced a national convention on environment leadership and disaster preparedness in mid-September. The two Damalerios have one more brother in government office and public service, Provincial Board Member Abeleon Damalerio. (Ven rebo Arigo)