LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—A collaborative undertaking between the province of Pangasinan and the Local Government Unit of Pasig City in times of major disasters and emergencies is in the offing.
This developed after the Pangasinan provincial board, during its regular session on November 6, passed a resolution authorizing Governor Ramon V. Guico III to enter and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the LGU of Pasig City for the establishment of a framework for the said purpose.
Authored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Vici M. Ventanilla, the resolution disclosed that the LGU of Pasig City, through its City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Province of Pangasinan, through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), have mutually agreed to expand good working relationships to enhance community disaster preparedness and coordinate disaster planning and response activities.
As stated in the resolution, the two LGUs have committed to work closely not only in implementing best practices for disaster risk reduction and management but also in enhancing their knowledge and expertise that will successfully contribute to the improvement of their delivery of service to their respective communities.
“Section 33 of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, provides that local government units may group themselves, consolidate, or coordinate their efforts, services, and resources for purposes commonly beneficial to them,” the resolution partly stated.
Furthermore, the resolution cited that “Section 12 of RA 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, provides that there shall be an established Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) in every province, city, and municipality, and a Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) in every barangay shall be responsible for setting the direction, development, implementation, and coordination of disaster risk management programs within their territorial jurisdiction.”
The MOU will be signed by Gov. Guico and Pasig City Mayor Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” N. Sotto.
(Ruby R. Bernardino/PIMRO)
