Headlines & Front Page – February 27, 2012

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Common Effort on DRR Management Launched

Mindanao leaders and residents have committed to collaborate more closely and effectively with each other to coordinate their efforts on capacity building for disaster risk reduction (DRR), preparedness, relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and resettlement.

This was manifested in the “Mindanao Declaration on DRR Priorities” (MDDRRP) that they signed at the close of the Mindanao Summit on DRR and Geo-Hazard Awareness at Dynasty Court, Cagayan de Oro City held on Feb. 18-19, 2012.

The 2-day activity was organized by Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Teofisto Giongona III, who are both from Northern Mindanao, in the aftermath of the devastation brought about by tropical storm Sendong (Wishi).

Senator Teofisto de Lara Guingona III, left and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III meet the Cagayan de Oro media during the recent “Mindanao Summit on Disaster Risk Reduction and Geo Hazard Awareness” which they organized. (Rodolfo D. Mendoza/PIA-10)

“We declare our unity, commitment, and resolve to reduce the risks of disasters in our island, finding strength in the diversity of our backgrounds as we come from different institutions, such as, the Philippine Senate, the House of Representatives, the National Government, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), local governments at all levels, barangays, municipalities, cities, and provinces, the business sector, civil society, academe, media, and grassroots communities,” the MDDRRP reads, in part.

It also said they recognize that disasters can be natural and human-induced and, in Mindanao, include earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides, extreme weather events such as droughts, typhoons, and excessive rainfall, sea level rise and storm surges, flooding, flash floods, human-induced environmental disasters, forest and other fires, and armed conflict.

Aware of the threat of climate change and that the Mindanao island will be severely affected by its impacts unless integrated adaptation-mitigation programs are implemented at the soonest time possible, they acknowledge that geo-hazards naturally exist in the Mindanao ecosystems and environment and human actions or inaction can aggravate, accelerate, or mitigate the risk of disasters arising from these geo-hazards.

They are concerned particularly that logging, mining, unsustainable agriculture, and other similar land use activities increase the vulnerability of many ecosystems and communities in the island.

They also support the peace process and urge the national government and revolutionary organizations like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the CPP/NPA to enter into permanent peace settlements that would make widespread dislocation and displacement of large populations a thing of the past.

Recognizing that disasters and calamities inevitably impact on citizens, communities, properties and infrastructure, and as a result, threaten not only Mindanao's but the entire country's sustainable development, they noted the vulnerability of communities and localities to disasters and calamities can be addressed with proper management of the sources of risk, level of exposure, and buildup of adaptive capacity.

The MDDRRP listed eight (8) concerns that needs to be addressed the soonest time possible.

First in the list is addressing the lack of knowledge and/or inadequate communication of existing knowledge on DRR by the Mindanao residents, themselves.

As such, the signatories agreed to address this concern through scientific research, training, and information, education, and communication (IEC) interventions, using up-to-date technology and community-based approaches.

It can also be addressed by integrating DRR and geo-hazard awareness in the educational curriculum, as well, as in religious institutions and production of child-friendly IEC materials and information based on local best practices, which should be popularized and translated into the local dialect.

Second in the list is the emergency preparedness and response which can be addressed through the conduct of regular disaster drills, simplifying disaster response protocols and organizing effective psycho-social interventions to help affected persons and families to cope and adapt to any disaster or calamity situation.

The other concerns in the list are the Implementation of DRR Management Plans aimed at zero-casualty and minimal economic damage at the regional, provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels;

Strict implementation and immediate enforcement of laws on environment, natural resources and land-use, including prohibiting of mining and logging in disaster-prone/ vulnerable areas by the national government and the local government units (LGU’s);

Establishment of a river basin management with an ecosystem-based approach to be implemented in managing areas from ridge to reef and massive reforestation of mangrove forests, through planting of native species to promote biodiversity and sustainability;

Passage of pending bills, such as, the People’s Survival Fund, People’s Solidarity Fund, the Land Use Act, and laws that will establish a permanent, independent DRRM agency and promote inter-LGU cooperation in DRR and climate change adaptation (CCA);

Setting up the appropriate institutional mechanisms for DRR Management implementation, including institutionalizing incident command systems and an LGU rating system for disaster response and accountability, and adequate early warning systems at all levels;

Designing and implementing innovative capacity building, resource mobilization strategies and mechanisms, including monitoring progress to implement these DRR priorities.

The MDDRRP was adopted by consensus as an output of the Mindanao Summit on DRR and Geo-Hazard Awareness last Feb. 18-19, in Cagayan de Oro City, organized by the two (2) Senators from Northern Mindanao, namely: Aquilino Pimentel III and Teofilo Guingona III.

The activity was attended by more than 1,000, leaders from the business sector, civil society, academe, media, and grassroots communities, as well, as the chief executives of provincial and municipal LGU’s from the six (6) regions of Mindanao, who all agreed to unite, commit, and resolve to reduce the risks of disasters in the island. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob/PIA-10)