The Negros Occidental provincial government spearheaded the First Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Summit at the Mambukal Convention Center at the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia, Tuesday, July 26.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that it is only through the effective management of conditions of hazards, exposure, and vulnerability that the people and the government can prevent losses and ease the impacts of disasters.
“Since we cannot control the severity of natural hazards, our window for reducing risk lies in reducing vulnerability and exposure,” he said.
The governor also cited the expansion of the scope of services of the Provincial Disaster Management Office that effectively matched the need for emergency response, including the One Hospital Command, Emergency Rescue 911, and Command and Response Center.
He also cited the improvement of the Automated Early Warning System with repeaters installed in local government units with critical areas to improve the response of concerned barangays in times of emergency.
One of the objectives of the activity is to issue a unified disaster response protocol to be adopted and followed uniformly during emergency and disaster situations, he said.
The event was participated in by mayors and DRRM officers.*