RDCC 8 takes necessary actions based on lessons learned from Ondoy calamity
TACLOBAN City — The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council for Eastern Visayas recently met to collate member agency’s observations based on Ondoy calamity in order to make the necessary measures in order to avoid the same observations from happening again.
Based on the observations, RDDC 8 made suggestions on the improvements that must be made to strengthen coordination and to enhance communication strategies.
One of the observations is the large number of death which shows that there is something wrong somewhere along the line of communication. Many were trapped inside their rooms which showed that perhaps many of the victims were not even aware that there was flooding in their areas already.
There is a need to strengthen the advocacy for people and disaster coordinating councils to heed the weather advisories and warnings.
People and government officials blame the National Disaster Coordinating Council because of the delay in rescue operations. Unfortunately, this is the look out of the local disaster coordinating councils. This fact must be emphasized. The NDCC is there to coordinate the actions of various agencies and private organizations.
Lack of relief good and food items because the calamity came so suddenly but local disaster coordinating councils should have included this in their disaster preparations.
The lack of rescue equipments was also observed. The fact showed that many local disaster coordinating councils in the stricken areas were not really ready and didn’t have functional or operational DCCs.
Another observation is the proliferation of groups and individuals which or who immediately conducted disaster relief solicitation. There should be prior arrangement with the NDCC as to the actions, so that the NDCC will be the one to coordinate which areas must be attended to by each group.
The RDCC 8 decided to have an assessment of all the local DCCs in order to see how prepared the region is in case of region-wide disaster. A special committee that will look into this area was created.
It was suggested that the various committees should also take time to meet with their respective members to evaluate their respective committees. (PIA Region VIII)
