CDRRMO PREPARES FOR COVID RESPONSE, EMERGENCIES, RAINY SEASON

07 July 2021 – The City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) has stepped up on preparedness not only for the rainy season but also for other emergency circumstances.

According to Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Antonette Anaban, their office functioned during this Covid-19 pandemic through the one hospital command, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response, and standby on medical assistance in vaccination centers. Assigned personnel were instructed to be on the lookout for vaccinees with allergic reactions.

Though short on manpower, partners from the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), City Engineers Office (CEO), City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), 911 on-call, BBPICAG, Army Reserve Force, Public Order Safety Division, and volunteers from the civil society were in close coordination and often was up for assistance in all areas, Anaban said.

Coordination for joint inspection and inventory of resources, with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (OCSWDO), and Health Services Office (HSO) is also being done, in preparation for rainy day-worse case scenarios. Evacuation sites were prepared, as with logistics, food and medicine stockpile, adequate water, wash and hygiene materials and facilities.

As the CDRRM office is also involved in the smart city transition and in consonance with needed instructions from the 911 national emergency office; trainings for supervisors and telemanagers are planned. Alternative communication tools, such as handheld and fully functional radios shall be distributed to key areas, Anaban further said.

Individuals, groups or organizations who can volunteer their time and/or resources are welcome to partner with the CDRRMO, Anaban said. There are also requests for basic life support and support response training which shall be integrated with updated workshops on climate change and resiliency. Advance training requests from the barangays shall be accommodated, pending funding requests from higher authorities, she added.

Coordination is done with Councilor Mike Lawana’s office, Anaban said, for equipment procurement, preparedness, improvement, enhancement and infusion of technology for the CDRRMO.

Offices and agencies are also in close working coordination and staff augmentation with the CDRRMO, Anaban ended.

Blood-letting sessions, every Tuesday of this month is also on target, Anaban said as volunteers and the barangays are asked to coordinate with the CDRRM Office. The activity is done as part of the celebration of national resiliency month. – Julie G. Fianza