Pangasinan Today

Pangasinan joins the nationwide celebration of National Disaster Consciousness Month this July with the theme, “Pag Alerto, Malayo sa Peligro.”

The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC), under the chairmanship of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has prepared various activities which focuses on the preparation of measures against unexpected natural disasters.

In a short program after the Monday flag raising ceremony on July 14, PNP Regional Director Isagani R. Nerez talked about Disaster Management (prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation) before the provincial government employees.

“We must learn to prevent and mitigate the ill-effects or adverse effects of any calamity and it is the PDCC under the Gov. Amado T. Espino that is fast to formulate initiatives, programs and strategies to make our kabaleyans aware on how to protect themselves and their properties in times of disaster,” Nerez, who is also the concurrent Vice Chairman of PDCC Pangasinan, said.

On the other hand, Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas expressed her desire to come out with a Disaster Management Code for the province hopefully within this administration together with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, PNP and PDCC.

PDCC executive officer and Pangasinan civil defense coordinator Paterno M. Orduña concurred with the Vice Governor’s proposal, saying that PDCC will conduct research on how to formulate such code on disaster management.

Orduña also cited the hands-on leadership of the governor. “Nung kasagsagan ng typhoon Cosme at Frank, kasama po natin siyang nagpupuyat.  He was personally directing the operation of PDCC to respond to these calamities,” Orduña disclosed.

The month-long celebration kicked off with a motorcade in Lingayen main roads to create awareness among the people of the importance of disaster preparedness.  The motorcade was participated in by PDCC, Provincial Health Emergency Response Team (PHERT), Water and Search Rescue (WASAR), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFAP), Red Cross, Provincial Employment and Services Office (PESO), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and various offices of the provincial government.

            Other activities include forum and coordination meeting of local Disaster Coordinating Council (DCC) last July 4, Sub-national consultation workshop on National Assessment on the State of Disaster Risk Management in the Philippines in Baguio City last July 7-8, seminar on Basic Life Support on July 14-15 in preparation for the Emergency Medical Responders Training on August 6-20 at Villa Jireh Resort in Labrador to be participated in by the Provincial Health Emergency Response Team.

To educate the public about disaster preparedness, the NDCC thru PDCC distributed streamers, posters and leaflets to all municipalities in Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, the Governor is set to meet with the officials of San Roque Power Corporation on July 24 to discuss the successful result of Dam Break Simulation Drill held last June 26, 27, 30 and July 1 at the San Roque Dam in San Manuel.

The said drill was the output of Pre-Drill Conference of the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) of the San Roque Power Corporation in coordination with PDCC last June 13, 2008. (PIO/Ninia F. Nicolas)