PDRRMO holds 3rd Purok System Conference

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) Community-Managed Risk Reduction program hosted yesterday a conference for building resilient communities through Purok Systems at the Capitol's Social Hall.

Now on its third year, the conference titled “We grow leaders and develop champions to build resilient communities” aims to develop and improve Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaption in every local government unit (LGU) in the province.

“Let us be watchful and vigilant sa atong mga palibot,” stated Governor Hilario Davide III in his welcome message.

The purpose of the Purok System is to help smaller communities in Cebu to be aware and be vigilant of hazards through communicating, identifying and indicating early warning signs.

Correspondingly, the main goal of this program is resilience.

“We want all Cebuanos to be resilient. Resilient nga kung naa’y disaster, andam na ta,” as per Baltazar Tribunalo PDRRMO office head.

“The objective of this resilience is zero casualty,” he said. “The hazard remains a hazard. It won’t become a disaster."

For Tribunalo, the best practice in terms of disaster risk reduction should focus on micro communities.

“Kung moingon gani ka og disaster risk reduction, tutokan ana ang pinaka-looy gyud na sa komunidad. Kay ang disaster, kung dili nimo siya tutokan, kay mga pobre during sa disaster mas makalolooy to sila,” said Tribunalo.

One importance of this Purok System is that people in the community become involved and not solely reliant on persons in office.

“Ma-address dayon nimo. No need for a barangay captain, a mayor, or a governor, no need for a responder because at the purok level kahibaw ta'g kinsa atong tabangan,” Tribunalo stated, adding that the system also cultivates skills in community organizing and development.

“Nakit-an man gyud ni sa Provincial Government, gani gi-test pud ni sa United Nations og nindot man gyud kaayo ang resulta,” Tribunalo added.

He also mentioned that leaders for these Purok Systems do not necessarily need to be someone with a profession, or an office but someone with the will to help.

“Di pwede nga mag Purok System ka unya wa ka’y kasingkasing para sa mga tawo,” says Tribunalo.

The essence of this program is also about volunteering to help in disaster reduction, fostering the Filipino 'bayanihan' spirit.

“Ang kultura sa pagkamatinabangon, sa pagkamaisugon, sa pagprotekta sa katawhan, mga bata, sa babayen-an, sa kinaiyahan,” cited Tribunalo.

Purok System DRR originally started in San Fancisco in Camotes and is being replicated by different municipalities in the province.

However, with the success of the implemented Purok System, Tribunalo also stated the challenges they faced in establishing the program, particularly on how to convince the people in the community of the importance of disaster risk reduction.

“Naa man sab gyud ta’y kultura nga moingon nga wa man sa kultura ang pagtinabangay,” Tribunalo shares. “Challenge gyud kaayo na,” he added.

Another challenge is the institutionalization of the program by LGUs and ensuring its sustainability. (FREEMAN)