ANTIQUE – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) equipped barangay officials and responders of the coastal island municipality of Caluya, Antique, with skills on assessing the impact of disasters and emergency response.
PDRRMO Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer III Michael Tolentino said that 70 barangay officials and over 100 responders participated in the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) training and emergency response from August 11 to 15.
“Conducting the training on RDANA is essential because it will enhance the reporting and monitoring capability of the DRRM managers or barangay officials in case there is a disaster,” Tolentino said in an interview on August 15.
He said that generating a report on the damage as well as needs assessment in times of disaster will greatly help the mayor, barangay (village) officials, as well as other DRRM managers in their decision-making and determine the appropriate assistance they have to provide.
“Emphasized also during the training is the establishment of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in times of disaster,” Tolentino said.
The EOC has to be operationalized in times of disaster because it is where the responders will report and get instructions.
PDRRMO also trained the Semirara Island Emergency Action Group, an organization of emergency responders in Caluya, on vehicular accident response, collapsed structure search and rescue and high-angle rescue.
“The island municipality of Caluya frequently suffers from isolation because of its geographical location, which is why we have to enhance the capacity of the LGU and the community to manage disasters,” Tolentino said. (PNA)
