Camarines Sur, DeEd and PRC ink MOA on Disaster Preparedness

Pili, Camarines Sur, (PIA) ---   In strengthening their resolve to lessen if not eradicate casualties and damage to properties caused by natural disasters, the local government of Camarines Sur, thru Governor LRay Villafuerte recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Red Cross- (PRC) Camarines Sur Chapter to formalize another convergence of forces, this time in equipping the community with disaster preparedness.

In this campaign, the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and the local government and barangay units will be working hand in hand in implementing the principles of the Community Health Management and Disaster Risk Reduction Program aimed at improving the community’s vigilance during the occurrence of natural disasters and the constituent’s health condition as well.

PRC’s main responsibility will be to closely coordinate with other partners/stakeholders to ensure that the project will be properly and efficiently implemented.  It is also the task of PRC to maintain the partnership with project partners even beyond the project period to ensure its sustainability. 

The provincial government unit on their part is also tasked to ensure coordination effort and provide assistance, technical support and services as its counterpart component.  It is also their obligation to guarantee its sustained promotion and support to community health and disaster risk reduction program by providing manpower support.

The local government units of Lagonoy, Siruma, Garchitorena , Buhi and the city of Iriga will each provide a cash equity of 10% for the construction of facilities in line with health and disaster program.   

Selected barangay recipients should also assist the project staff in the identification and recruitment of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and Barangay Disaster Action Teams (BDATS). They should also see to it that the staff and Red Cross workers are safe and protected in the course of implementing the project.  A cash equity equivalent to 5% for construction and rehabilitation of health and water facilities shall also be shouldered by the barangay.

Added to the project component is the participation of DepEd who is also responsible for the creation of school disaster management plan and its similar replication in other schools.

The project’s recipients includes barangays Tambo, Salvacion, Iraya, Ipil, San Ramon, Antipolo, Igbac, Cabatuan and Ibayugan, all from the town of Buhi and barangays  Santiago, Cristo Del Rey, Sta. Teresita, San Pedro, Perpetual Help, Santo Nino and Sta. Maria from the city of Iriga. These barangays are mostly inhabited by Indigenous People or IPs.