Cebu’s disaster reponse office set to become independent department

Local

THE Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is poised to regain its status as a full-fledged department.

The first reading on a proposed ordinance that seeks to institutionalize the PDRRMO was conducted by the Provincial Board during its regular session on Monday, July 21.

If passed, the proposed ordinance, authored by Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, will make the PDRRMO an independent department that would supposedly improve the province’s disaster preparedness and response systems.

The office currently operates under the Office of the Governor with just three staff members.

Martinez said the recent spate of weather disturbances that led to class suspensions in several towns shows the urgent need to strengthen the province’s disaster response mechanisms.

“With the incident na rampant na kaayo—from [Typhoon] Odette, the other katong mga typhoons and weather disturbances and katong mga flooding na sad—I think it is high time na sad that we will reconsider nga ibalik nasad siya,” Martinez told reporters after the session.

Martinez pointed out that the proposal is not a new initiative, as he had already sponsored a similar ordinance during the administration of former governor Hilario Davide III.

He said the current measure is simply a refiled version of that earlier effort.

The PDRRMO, which had functioned as a department under Davide, was downgraded to an office during the term of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

While the current administration under Governor Pamela Baricuatro is pushing for the same structural upgrade, Martinez clarified that his advocacy for the department’s restoration predates the formation of the present Provincial Board.

Retired Col. Dennis Pastor, the newly appointed head of the PDRRMO, expressed support for the ordinance.

He said the transition to a department would allow the office to expand its workforce and establish dedicated disaster response teams.

“Dako kaayo’g advantage kay kung office, limited personnel ra baya na siya… So when you have a department, ma tarong nimo ang organization, you have responders that can really respond kay right now only have three responders,” Pastor said.

He said the goal is to create at least three teams, with seven members each, equipped with the proper tools and mobility assets.

Pastor also confirmed that the office plans to procure additional search and rescue gear within the second half of the year.

The upgrade complements Baricuatro’s commitment to expand the province’s disaster response capabilities through the procurement of land, air, and sea ambulances for hard-to-reach areas.

Pastor said sea ambulances would be stationed in Danao City for Camotes Island and in San Remigio or Bogo City for Bantayan Island.

Pastor noted that transporting patients from island towns during emergencies has remained difficult due to limited ferry schedules.

He said expediting the procurement of sea ambulances would greatly benefit residents, particularly in advancing the province’s healthcare agenda.

He also confirmed that the PDRRMO is coordinating with the Provincial Health Office to tap into the Disaster Risk Management Fund in support of health-related disaster response initiatives.

Despite ongoing improvements, Pastor shared that his initial assessment of the office revealed a troubling situation.

He found the PDRRMO severely lacking in both manpower and equipment, having been neglected for the past six years, a condition that, he admitted, left a “bad taste.”(MyTVCebu)