During the finalization of the Department of Agriculture- Disaster Risk and Reduction Management (DRRM) manual held on October 11 to 13, Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan for Operations and Atty Cipriano Santiago, DA-MIMAROPA’s Regional Executive Director, encouraged the contributors of the activity to make the operations manual to be simple and easy to understand.
The two executives asked for a simplified manual so that in times of disaster, the department could immediately respond to the needs of the sectors.
“I urge you to make a manual that is not complicated, which will make it easier for us to immediately respond to the needs of the people in times of disaster,” said by RED Santiago in his welcome message.
RED Santiago welcomed the participants, for the activity was held in Puerto Princesa City at A&A Plaza Hotel.
USec Cayanan agrees with the RED in making it simple but would not confine them to think of ways how to prevent and handle such crisis.
“I agree with what RED Santiago said that we should have a simplified manual, so that it would not serve as a cage that limits us from being effective and efficient,” he expressed during his opening remarks.
Furthermore, Usec Cayanan emphasized the importance of cooperation and asking questions during the brainstorming. He said that it pays out to ask each other so that they have surely input the particular needs of every industry in the agriculture sector for disaster risk reduction and management.
The manual strategic plan and action is aligned with the four thematic areas of DRR which are disaster risk prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness and warning, quick and effective response, and lastly, is the rehabilitation and building forward better. Its framework is based on Hyogo Frame of Action, Japan’s Sendai Framework and National DRRM law or the Republic Act 10121.
They have discussed the intervention measures for each area such as in crops and infrastructure, livestock, fisheries, and marketing and value chain.
The finalization of the manual undergo three-days of brainstorming of DA’s different bureaus, attached agencies and regional offices with workshops and thorough critiquing supervised by the DA’s Fields Programs Operational Planning Division Chief, Engr. Christopher V. Morales.
