A proposed ordinance seeking to transform the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (BCDRRMO) into a full-fledged department under the Office of the Mayor has been filed with the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).
Councilor Caesar Distrito, who filed the proposed ordinance, said on Sunday, July 27, that it aims to expand the office’s organizational structure and staffing, enhance its operational capacity, and align it with national standards.
Councilors Celia Flor and Em Ang co-authored the measure, he said.
Distrito said it is a proactive move to strengthen Bacolod City’s disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities.
“With Bacolod’s growing population and vulnerability to natural disasters, it’s crucial that we institutionalize a stronger, better equipped, and fully staffed DRRM Department that can respond swiftly and efficiently to emergencies,” he said.
The measure, if approved, will establish the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (BCDRRMD).
It clearly outlines three divisions: administration and training, research and planning, and operations and warning, he said.
Distrito said the ordinance also creates new plantilla positions, including a department head, to ensure professional and permanent leadership in disaster management.
“This is a forward-looking investment in the safety and resilience of our people. A dedicated DRRM Department will improve response times, coordination, and planning,” Flor said.
Ang also highlighted the need for a stronger structure in anticipation of more frequent climate-related hazards.
“We must act now to build a system that is both responsive and anticipatory. This ordinance brings us closer to that goal,” she said.
Distrito noted that the proposed ordinance aligns with Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, and supports Bacolod’s vision of becoming a disaster-resilient city.
The SP is expected to deliberate on the measure in its upcoming sessions, he said.*