Mindanao Daily NEWS LIFESTYLE . PEOPLE . PLACES . EVENTS Bringing Good News of Mindanao
Volume III, No. 123
TUESDAY
Editor: Christine Cabiasa
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See2014 story on PageC1 12 October 21,
WOMAN IN PUBLIC SERVICE “Public service is more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It is a complete dedication to the people and to the nation.” ~ Margaret Chase Smith
A look into Civil Defense-X
Dir. Ana Cañeda’s commitment to a safe Northern Mindanao By CHRISTINE H. CABIASA, Lifestyle Editor
“Before when typhoon comes, I just only think about my family and relatives but now it is the peoples’ welfare first before anything else.”
T
his was the statement of Office of the Civil Defense-X regional director Ana Castillo Cañeda when asked how civil defense and community works inked changes to her life. Indeed, being in the government service entails sacrifices; sacrifices making you a “woman for others”, giving your life for others and even living your life for others. This is the commitment Dir. Cañeda upholds as she cruises in bracing and saving lives to rear a safe region 10, a safe Northern Mindanao. The Office of the Civil Defense sets to administer a comprehensive national defense and disaster risk
reduction management program by providing leadership in the continuous development in strategic and systematic approaches as well as measures to reduce the vulnerabilities and risks to hazards and manage the consequence of disasters. Unknown to many, Dir. Cañeda is a nurse by profession. A profession which she sees suits her community-related and civil-related endeavours now being with the Office of the Civil Defense. “Wala ra gyud naglayo ang nature sa work, before I used to teach Nursing also, still civil defense works is for the community, still it is a work for others,” Dir. Cañeda said.
Dir. Cañeda has been in service for three years now. She first entered OCD as civil defense officer III. She is the first lady director of the Office of the Civil Defense. She shared that she was even conceived before as a member of the Philippine Army, since Office of the Civil Defense carries “civil defense”. “Sundalo ka Ma’am? People would always ask me if sundalo ba daw ko? I just laugh,” she said. Challenges encountered “The work is very challenging” According to Dir. Cañeda, Republic Act 10121 otherwise known as the
Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 was passed in response to typhoons and other disasters but when she sat as the regional director, Office of the Civil Defense shifted its concerns from disaster response paradigm to a more proactive disaster preparedness and disaster risk mitigation and reduction paradigms. “That was the challenge. Before, OCD is to response, now as much as possible we have to prepare and reduce disaster risks,” she said. “Strategy is to strengthen and intensify the local disaster risk reduction and management planning,” she added. “OCD-X goes to down to barangays to promote disaster preparedness, mitigation and prevention schemes. It is not an easy task. We have to be always vigilant, we have to better first the welfare of the people before anything else,” Dir. Cañeda stressed. “Even if local government units hear us to be repetitive, OCD-X will not
stop reminding our local chief executives and local officials that we are talking lives here.” Dir. Cañeda said that the typhoon Sendong incident was the “biggest leap” that happened among Kagay-anons, in which it took away thousands of lives. “After Sendong, people now are conscious and sensitive of what is happening around their community. It brought ample awareness to us that disasters do not choose or select people or things to destroy,” she added. “Peoples’ welfare is more important” “I have missed many family celebrations just to stay in the office to plan” Dir. Cañeda disclosed that she has missed celebrations because of her work but finds quality time to be with her family. “Yes oh yes! I have missed wedding anniversary celebrations and birthdays. Ang akong anak muingon na lang sa ako nga muoban siya sa seminar just to spend his birth-
day with me. Gaka-guilty ko pero this is my commitment, commitment to my work and to the people. The welfare of the people is more important than anything else.” Shared responsibility Dir. Cañeda said that disaster preparedness and mitigation is a shared responsibility, every individual’s responsibility to the community he or she belongs. “We are all in this together. We must prepare. Disasters simply do not care who and when to hit, it just hits,” she said. A c c o r d i n g t o D i r. Cañeda we cannot blame local government units when disasters struck but let us ask ourselves what were our contributions to the result. “It is our responsibility. Let us help the local government units mitigate and reduce disasters, let us do our share.” “Let us hold hands and achieve a safe and proactive Northern Mindanao.”
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