by Wilson J Hormeguera
Cognizant of the role of governance in the “new normal” climate, XU’s Governance and Leadership Institute hosted a forum on “The Governance of Disaster: The Albay Success Story” on March 5 at the University’s Little Theatre. The invited speakers were Mayor Herbie Aguas of Sto Domingo, Albay and Dr Cedric Daep, head of the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management.
Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, XU President, welcomed the speakers and participants who were mostly from the barangay local government units of Cagayan de Oro City. Fr Yap stressed on everyone’s readiness and the compulsory establishment of Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) as this is the call of what he termed as the “new normal” climate.
Mayor Aguas talked about the Disaster Risk Reduction experiences of the Municipality of Sto. Domingo in Albay Province. The LGU of Sto. Domingo has institutionalized DRRM and has operationalized it down to the barangay level. The community’s preparedness includes Hazard Mapping, installation of community-wide Warning system, DRR orientation, trainings, and drills. Its best practice is the DRRM manual in the Bicol language distributed to the community. “Our people are very much prepared. Everyone, including elementary school pupils, knows what to do before disaster strikes,” said Mayor Aguas as he highlighted his people’s preparedness which made them a national awardee of Gawad Kalasag for Best DRRMC.
Dr Cedric Daep shared the DRR innovations and best practices of Albay Province. Showing the audience an image of beautiful clouds, Dr Daep asserted that for Albay, the image is not a poetic or romantic one but a warning sign. All units of the province are synergized in order to properly manage disaster risk reduction. Focusing on governance, Dr Daep presented 15 points to consider, from profiling and assessing vulnerability and preparedness to putting organizational structures, supporting hazard maps with legislation, enforcing compliance, protecting ecosystems and natural buffers to mitigate hazards, and adapting to climate change. “The local government must unite in implementing RA 10121 (Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010) and RA 9729 (Climate Change Act of 2009),” advised Dr Daep.
Reactors from different sectors thanked and affirmed the guest speakers. Mr. Verner Monsanto, head of CDRRMC in Cagayan de Oro, expressed how the forum has given him effective insights that will hopefully guide his leadership. Fr Eric Velandria SJ, who represents the academe and was convener of XU Tabang Sendong Relief Operation, stressed the importance of research and education which the academe can contribute to the government. Ms Easterluna Canoy, CSO representative, found the inclusivity of the forum and pinpointed the respect for indigenous people and indigenous culture in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
Moreover, the forum facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and Xavier University. Both Mayor Oscar Moreno and Fr Roberto Yap SJ signed the memorandum on the project, “Enhancing the Capacity of the River-side Barangays on DRRM.”
Both Mayor Moreno and Fr Yap also signed the manifesto of the Cagayan de Oro Youth on Disaster Preparedness. Ms. Abigail Manampan, KKP Student-Volunteer, presented the manifesto stating that the youth sector shall pro-actively respond to the need for holistic youth programs, which includes heightened and sustained awareness of DRRM through Information Education Campaign materials and formation programs for out-of-school youth; enactment of sufficient and responsive services for all concerned government agencies to provide assistance necessary to barangays especially those that were hit by calamities like Sendong and Pablo; and provision of greater opportunities for the youth to be engaged through ample representation in governance and legislation.
Engr Dexter Lo, coordinator of XU-DRRM, synthesized and closed the forum with words of thanksgiving for the sharing of experiences and stories of hope. He also thanked the guest speakers who promised the XU-DRRM Team members free participation in the training at Albay’s Climate Change Academy this summer.