BY WAYNE A. BIGSAT
The Bacolod City Government Center opened its lobby to celebrate the two-day NDRM 2022 exhibit of the National Disaster Resilience Month themed “Sambayanang Pilipino, Nagkakaisa tungo sa Katatagan at Maunlad na Kinabukasan”, July 13.
The activity was led by Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, Councilors Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Jason Villarosa, and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan.
Dr. Pornan encouraged the public to visit every booth and welcomed volunteers to participate and get involved.
The exhibit emphasized the importance of strengthening and unifying the disaster risk reduction activity by leveraging the participation of the general public and the national government agencies, local government units and public and private sector employees, and civil society organizations in transitioning to better new normal and preparation for new emerging disasters.
It was participated in by Détente Y Ayuda (DYA) Bacolod, Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade, Philippine Red Cross Bacolod Chapter, and Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade.
The NDRM 2022 exhibit gives emphasis on the importance of strengthening and unifying the activity on disaster risk reduction by urging the participation of the general public and the national government agencies, local government units and public and employees of both the public and private sector and also, civil society organizations in adapting its preparedness to the new normal and new emerging disasters, Bacolod City Public Information Office explained.
Bacolod City in the past few days had been experiencing floods in flood prone areas due to the recent rains.
In line with this, Benitez announced in a press conference on July 11, that he had directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the office of the city engineer to harmonize their flood control plans.
He stressed the need for identifying the problem so that they could come up with a right solution.
Benitez is also looking at innovating and incorporating new ideas to address problems. The mayor also suggested the use of strainers to be placed in drainages to prevent them from clogging.*
