Citing past experience, Dr. Anthony Damalerio head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) during the weekly forum – Capitol Reports, said Bohol needs to strengthen procedures against the disaster vulnerability. Foremost of these is to conduct preparedness trainings for first responders, prior procurement of rescue equipments and constant public drills for disasters and natural calamities.
Damalerio said the Municipal Mayors who lead the first responders in emergencies must also be the incident commanders during disasters. This is embodied in RA 10121, the disaster reduction act. Jose Requeron, head of operations of the TARSIER 117 also said they are working with PDRRMO in conducting disaster preparedness and trainings on early warning systems for municipalities in the Province of Bohol. Currently, there are eight ( TARSIER 117 substations in Bohol and the Base Headquarters is located at Camp Bernido in the City of Tagbilaran.
Additional substations are in Candijay and Inabangga. Disclosed during the forum is the new feature in the disaster mitigation which is the integration of nutrition plans involving the food for evacuees, according to Ryan Palma, administrative officer of PDRRMO. During disasters and calamities, there is a need to provide nutritious food especially for the children and elderly in the evacuation canters. Damalerio stressed frontliners trainings, saying that preparedness is the name of the game “since Bohol has five (5) earthquake fault lines in the east, north and southern coast is usually hit by typhoons seven(7) times in a year.” He likewise reiterated the necessity of reviving the plan to create a Department of Disaster Resiliency to further boost local preparedness during natural calamities.