Importance of disaster risk and reduction management
By Zorayda S. Tecson
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has cited the importance of disaster risk and reduction management (DRRM) in building a resilient, safe community in times of disasters.
NEDA regional director Severino Santos said DRRM played a significant role in protecting lives of people and at the same time, in sustaining the economic development and progress of the communities.
Various sectors should be always prepared with the adverse effects of climate change, Santos said, adding that the preparation as well as the support of local government units (LGU) is important to lessen the socio-economic and environmental impacts of disasters.
He also underscored the significance of implementing projects and programs that would address problems caused by calamities/disasters.
“Our LGUs, just like what the local officials did in Albay, should identify areas prone to risks,” he said.
One of the important factors to sustain economic development in Central Luzon is to adopt DRRM that is holistic, comprehensive and integrated, he added.
Among the sectors that have been adversely affected by calamities in the region are the industries in Clark and Subic and the agriculture in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Pampanga.
As a result, he said, the Regional Development Council (RDC) has recently formed a committee that would focus on addressing the flooding problems in the region.
”The RDC created the Pampanga River Basin Committee (PRBC) to identify flood-prone areas in Central Luzon and implement flood mitigating measures,” he said.
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