MCDCB Co-head Impressed by LGU Actions vs Typhoon; Institutionalizing Disaster Response Mechanisms Pressed

Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) co-chairman Roberto Aboitiz is impressed and glad over the response of the local government units in preparing for typhoon Ruby.

Receiving updates from the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) assessment teams sent immediately after the typhoon hit the province, Abotiz, who is president of the foundation, said the mayors did their job in preparing their respective localities and “seeing to it that their constituents are at the top of their plans.

“They are more focused on what they need to do,” Aboitiz said, adding that the disaster preparedness response was a product of past lessons learned, which to him is the essence of his Bugsay Philosophy, particularly on applying the lessons and continuously moving forward.

Dominica B. Chua, RAFI chief operating officer, led the RAFI assessment teams in checking northern Cebu and saw for herself how the towns and the city of Bogo coped with the typhoon.

“Even though it was a Sunday (December 7), it was like a work day in the city, municipal halls, which served as command posts and with the mayors overseeing all.  I even spoke with one who said he was not able to go home yet because of the preparations,” she said.

Chua said the mayors took control of the command centers and saw to it that all preparations were being carried out and all measures were being observed, including the stockpiling and distribution of food and other items at the evacuation centers.

“The people felt the presence of the government and their sense of confidence and hope rose,” Chua noted, having visited numerous evacuation centers identified by the local government units.

Authorities chiefly cited the preemptive evacuations LGU implemented as the reason why the number of casualties was very minimal.

Chua said that having seen the positive effects of good preparation, disaster preparedness should be institutionalized not only by the LGUs but by the respective homes itself.

“A change of mindset is very important, to be prepared rather than complacent, knowing that this (stronger typhoons) is now the new normal.  We must make disaster preparedness and readiness part of our culture; because as you can see, it made the difference,” she said.

This year, RAFI, though the Eduardo Aboitiz Studies Center, held a series of fora discussing readiness for the “new normal,” especially on building disaster-resilient communities and infrastructures, assessing risks, and understanding vulnerabilities.

The sessions were aimed to increase awareness of the public and key leaders of Cebu towards making more informed decisions regarding better preparation for disasters, both in terms of physical and social infrastructure; improving response, management, and rehabilitation of disaster-affected areas; and recent trends and new strategies and approaches towards disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation applicable in the Philippine context.

Also, Chua said RAFI is eyeing extending help in Samar, particularly Borongan, which is the locality worst hit by typhoon Ruby.

She said that following its assessment, the foundation saw that the Cebu LGUs are capable in handling the situation in their respective jurisdictions.

As of the moment, RAFI is awaiting updated information from its partners in Samar. The additional information would serve as basis for RAFI how to appropriately respond in terms of providing assistance to those affected by typhoon Ruby.