Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. underscored the importance of engaging the municipalities and schools in beefing up the country’s disaster response.
During the courtesy visit of Office of Civil Defense VI Regional Director Raul E Fernandez on February 22, 2024, the governor emphasized the need to capacitate the municipalities in harnessing their disaster risk reduction and management efforts.
The provincial government is currently building a Civil Defense Operations Hub (Resilience Hub) worth P5 million to five coastal municipalities which will serve as a hub for all DRRM activities and ensure efficient coordination with local government units during disasters. The facility will also serve as a headquarters for the management of the Visayan Sea and a home for the Bantay Dagat team.
The recipients are Estancia, Banate, Carles, Concepcion, and Miagao.
“Our mantra is that the best defense is development,” Defensor said.
The governor also backed the plan of OCD VI to engage state universities and colleges in the revival of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).
Defensor said it is important to organize a school-based national service reserve corps to capacitate students in civil defense.
“We want to be involved in the ROTC program and develop a mindset that ROTC is for development,” he added.
The governor was joined by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Cornelio Salinas during the meeting. Also present are OCD VI Regional Information Officer Tina Illustre-Mayor and Admin Officer VI Hyacinth J. Menicable.
(Capitol News)
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