standard operating procedures (SOPs) or protocols of the different member-agencies for submission to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Roy Dorado, OCD12 assistant regional director for operations presented the draft manual emphasizing that SOPs already practiced by different member-agencies will form part of the regional version. The SOPs are those undertaken by response agencies immediately within the 72 hours during disasters. Among those who presented their SOPs
were the Philippine Army 1002 Brigade, the Philippine Army 512ECB, 52nd Engineering Brigade, the Philippine Coast Guard, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine Information Agency. Dorado also said under Republic Act 10121 otherwise known as “An act strengthening the
Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system, providing for the national disaster risk reduction and management framework and institutionalizing the national disaster risk reduction and management plan,” the local DRRM office can enforce the evacuation of residents living in hazard-prone areas in times of disaster upon the approval of the council. Leo Chong, chief of Health Emergency Management Staff of DOH-12, in his presentation, cited the importance of defining to what extent and levels of coordination a member agency of the council can offer. M e a n w h i l e , Jerome Barranco, OCD-12 assistant regional director for administration, who took note of the issues and concerns such as “who takes command and control during disaster and who should be the agency authorized to give information during
Monday, February 6, 2012
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