City trains Barangay Officials on DRR

(5^th from left) 1^st District Cong. Victor Yu and wife Vice

Mayor Divina Grace Yu, City newly appointed Disaster

Risk Reduction and Management Officer Haron Damada

and some LGU employees during the Tree Planting

activities. (Photo provided by PCPB)

By KIT KAIMO

PAGADIAN CITY - For the first time, the Pagadian City government, along with the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Office of Civil Defense conducted a 2-day training on Disaster Preparedness for the Barangay officials of Pagadian last week, July 9 and 10.

During the said training, Barangay officials were asked to establish disaster plan as a preparation for possible disasters that may go their way in the future, Pagadian City Press Bureau press statement said.

Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Adriano Fuego, during the said training, explained that Pagadian City and province of Zamboanga del Sur has to prepare for possible disasters as Davao, Cagayan de Oro and the Negros were able to suffer from disasters in the past.

“Mindanao is no longer a typhoon-free area,” he said. During the Typhoon Pablo, he added that for the first time Region IX was rated at signal number 3, “immediately we called for an emergency conference, and thankful that as the typhoon neared our area it shrunk to signal number 1.” 

He even told the Chief Executives that meetings should be conducted during such times, everybody should be ready for incoming disasters. 

In Pagadian City, the OCD Regional Director cited that it is good that the City Mayor recognized the need for the city and its Barangays to be prepared.  He said that the LGU will be purchasing equipment for the DRR response and drills will also be conducted in the baragays.

It was also learned that Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office was also established headed by Haron Damada.

Pagadian City Mayor Romeo

“Tata” Pulmones. (Photo by

J. Cadion)

Accordingly, a billboard on the history of Pagadian City who experienced Tsunami on August 1976 where 8,000 people were killed will be posted soon. This should be positioned on a public place to remind the people of the incident and to make them realize that they have to plan in case this happens again in the future especially if PAG-ASA, PHILVOCS or other agencies from the government declare the people on some areas to evacuate, “they should follow,” he said.

Pagadian City Mayor Romeo Pulmones, on the other hand,  said he was reminded by the OCD that in the whole Region IX, Pagadian was the only one not able to organize or even create the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

“Ug bisan naulahi, naningkamot me nga matukod nato ang CDRRM,” he said, adding that said group is very important especially for those in the highlands and