Capitol told to make PDCC a 'permanent office' (Sun.Star Pampanga Friday, October 05, 2007)

Capitol told to make PDCC a 'permanent office'
By Ian Ocampo Flora

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A permanent office with is own permanent staff, as well as budget, are being hollered by local town officials on the present state of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) so as to further improve the disaster preparedness capabilities of Pampanga in its subsequent towns.

This was the main concern of participants of the recently held planning-workshop for local officials at the Ninoy Aquino Hall at the Capitol grounds here.

The town officials stressed that to be able to meet the objectives of preparing a multi-hard development plan that would include contingency and rehabilitation plans, the PDCC should first be turned into a permanent office.

This is to be able to accomplish the objectives contained in the multi-hazard plan, they said.

PDCC chief Luchie Gutierrez said the conversion would enable the fast mobilization and preparation of the disaster capabilities of the province. "The truth is there are pending moves for the change in format of the PDCC but there are also certain considerations being evaluated as of the moment," Gutierrez said.

At present, the PDCC is convened only during disasters and calamities to coordinate disaster response. Town officials are optimistic that with the change in format, the PDCC would be able to do pre-disaster and post-disaster rehabilitation plans. However, Isaias Panganiban, municipal administrator of Guagua, said towns should not just depend on the PDCC and must create a functional and operational disaster management and response plan for their own areas.

"The barangay and town levels are the first line of defense against disasters. We must not entirely depend on the PDCC. The usual practice is to run to the Provincial Government and utilize the calamity fund only when disaster strikes. Disaster management includes pre-disaster preparation and rehabilitation," Panganiban stressed.

The PDCC recently hailed Guagua town for its "intact and functioning" disaster plans. Guagua is the only town in the province with a functional digital mapping system for various disasters that can provide an overview of the effect of the disaster on the population, commercial embellishments and access roads.

"These disaster plans have been the product of previous disasters that we have experienced, and we try hard to learn from these experiences," Panganiban added.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) director Neri Amparo said towns should submit reports on their disaster plans and the aftermath report of any disaster.

"The changing of the PDCC to a permanent office is not guarantee disaster preparedness in Pampanga will improve. Towns and barangay officials must enjoin us in disaster preparedness," Amparo said.

As of press time, various towns have been "lukewarm" on the PDCC's and OCD's call to submit disaster reports.