GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/12 April) – South Cotabato officials are pushing for the institutionalization of the province’s disaster response and mitigation programs with the integration of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) as a new unit of the provincial government.
South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. said Tuesday the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has finally approved the establishment of a separate unit for the PDRRMC to pave the way for the implementation of various initiatives in line with the province’s designation as a pilot area for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the country.
South Cotabato, along with Laguna province, was earlier chosen by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as a pilot area for the implementation of strategic mechanisms to help mitiga
te and minimize the impact of disasters, especially those related to the changing climatic conditions, he said.
“We’re currently working on the mechanisms of the new PDRRMC unit and we’re also completing the necessary requirements to facilitate the implementation of the (piloting) program,” the governor said.
As a pilot area, Pingoy said the NDRRMC will help implement disaster response, risk reduction and climate change adaptation programs in the province, especially in areas that were perennially hit by landslides, flashfloods and other related disasters.
He said among the initial component of the program is the rehabilitation of critical rivers, forests, watershed and other waterways as well as flood-prone communities in the province.
