Negros region opens disaster management office

MANILA, Philippines — The newly created region of Negros Island now has its own disaster risk reduction and management office.

Local officials of the Negros Island Region led the creation of its regional Office of Civil Defense and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council last week.

OCD administrator and NDRRMC executive director Alexander Pama took  note of the new region’s past experience with disasters and calamities as the basis for the organization of its own disaster response agencies.

“Given the Negros Region’s experience with disasters and emergencies, it can be one of the role models for a better implementation of disaster risk reduction and management in the country,” said Pama during the installation of the offices last January 12.

Negros lsland Region was created on May 29, 2015, by virtue of an executive order signed by President Aquino.

The Negros RDRRMC is currently chaired by Blanche Gobenciong, while the Regional Development Peace and Order Council of the Department of the Interior and Local Government was installed as the interim secretariat of the RDRRMC.

Local officials led by Negros Occidental governor Alfredo Marafron Jr., Negros Oriental executive assistant to the governor Angelo Tiongson and several others witnessed the installation.

Meanwhile, the regional OCD in Bacolod City is presently being manned by eight personnel.  SFM