BACOLOD City – A proposed ordinance seeks to elevate the existing City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) into a full-fledged department, expand its organizational structure and personnel, clearly define its functions, and allocate necessary funds to strengthen the city’s disaster response and preparedness.
The proposed measure, authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, was approved on first reading during the City Council’s regular session last week.
Distrito said the measure, which will place the reorganized office under the Office of the City Mayor, is aligned with the directives and national standards of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Civil Service Commission (CSC), as outlined in Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2014-1.
The CDRRMO currently leads the city government’s efforts on disaster risk reduction and management, focusing on four thematic areas: disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery or rehabilitation. The office plays a crucial role in enhancing the disaster resilience of Bacolod City and its barangays.
According to Distrito, it is both timely and essential to upgrade the CDRRMO into a department, to be known as the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (BCDRRMD). This move aims to strengthen the department’s capacity to effectively serve the public, especially in preparing for and responding to various emergencies and natural calamities.
“It is imperative to have an effective and proactive disaster risk reduction and management department so Bacolodnons can become more disaster-resilient, minimizing risks to life and property,” Distrito said.
While existing positions under the current BCDRRMO will be retained, additional plantilla positions will be created as part of the proposed expansion, ensuring the department is adequately staffed to meet its growing responsibilities./PN
