National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairperson and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. on Thursday emphasized the importance of cooperation and harmonized effort by the council in the implementation and enhancement of various DRRM programs, policies, and guidelines, during the Third Quarter Full Council meeting at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Focusing on the strengthening of DRRM and the adoption of best practices for the public interest, Sec. Teodoro reiterated to officials and representatives of government agencies that NDRRMC should work as a council.
One of the highlights of discussion was the status and enhanced design of evacuation centers. It can be recalled that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stressed the importance of building resilient evacuation centers in his last State of the Nation Address to ensure the safety of the public in times of emergency.
Led by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the improved design of evacuation centers, the prioritization mechanism through risk-based assessments, as well as the considerations and updates on location and site suitability, structural and building capacity, and minimum design standards (menu of conceptual design standards) were tackled by the council.
Meanwhile, the proposed improved design of the evacuation center is still subject for finalization of concerned government agencies.
The council also tackled and approved amendments to NDRRMC Memorandum Circular No. 64, s. 2021 or the Guidelines on the Accreditation and Protection of Community Disaster Volunteers; Memorandum Circular on the Guidelines on Mainstreaming DRRM in Health (DRRM-H) in Local Development; and the proposed revision on Memorandum Circular no. 110, s.2021 or the Revised Guidelines on the Administration of the NDRRM Fund.
The enhanced guidelines tackled during the meeting will be disseminated to concerned stakeholders for implementation.
