By Joanne Namnama P. Dilim
SAN JUAN, La Union, March 22 (PIA) -- The revised manual specifically for typhoons was introduced in Ilocos Region.
On March 6, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 1 convened here members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-1) and other stakeholders for a regional roll-out of the Operation LISTO: Preparedness Manual v.3 for City and Municipal Local Government Units.
According to James Fadrilan, regional director of DILG -1, the latest version of the guidelines, which is specifically designed for typhoon occurrences, was presented to the participants for them to be guided before, during, and after typhoons.
“We expect that with the issuance of the manuals, local chief executives will be properly guided in times of typhoons because sets of disaster preparedness activities are already listed,” Fadrilan said.
He added, “Ang pagkalito ay maiiwasan o kung hindi man ay tuluyang mawawala dahil nakalista na lahat ng mga gagawin.”
He also underscored that “there can be no substitute for preparedness,” citing that the country experiences an average of 20 typhoons every year.
“We cannot prevent loss of lives from happening but we can reduce them to minimum. Our chances of having zero casualty will be maximized if we follow strictly the disaster preparedness guidelines,” said Fadrilan.
Fadrilan said the DILG will distribute copies of the manual to all four provinces of Region 1.
The DILG serves as the vice chair for disaster preparedness of the RDRRMC-1. (JNPD/PIA La Union)