Pam: Capitol now ready for disaster

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said the province has strengthened its disaster response capabilities and is now better prepared to deal with future calamities.

Baricuatro gave the assurance ahead of the first anniversary of Typhoon Tino on November 4, saying the provincial government has stepped up its preparations for disasters.

“We are prepared,” Baricuatro said when asked how the provincial government’s response would be different if a typhoon similar to Tino hit Cebu today.

“Preparedness is key in terms of disaster. Hence the increase of budget for 2027 in PDRRMO,” she added,

referring to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Baricuatro acknowledged, however, that the provincial government could not address every possible challenge during a calamity.

“But of course naa manay things na we can’t do everything. But as far as preparedness is concerned, we are prepared,” she said.

The governor also said the provincial government had already provided financial assistance to local government units affected by Typhoon Tino, with Balamban remaining the only LGU that had yet to receive the assistance.

As part of the commemoration of the disaster, Baricuatro said a Mass would be held at the Capitol, along with lighting activities to remember those who died during the earthquake and the typhoon.

The province’s preparations come after PDRRMO head retired Col. Dennis Francis Pastor described the disaster office as being in a “bad state” and “not disaster-ready” when he assumed the post on July 1.

During an interview on July 14, Pastor said he found the office lacking in manpower and equipment, raising concerns about the province’s capacity to respond to emergencies.

“Surprisingly, it’s in a bad state. We are not disaster-ready. It has been neglected for the past six years,” Pastor said at the time.

Pastor said the office has since procured equipment and improved its capacity to monitor and anticipate potential disasters.

“When we started in July 1, I said we’re not disaster-ready from that state of preparedness,” he said.

“But right now, we have been able to procure equipment,” he noted.

He added that the office’s new headquarters now has a dashboard for disaster preparedness, allowing personnel to forecast typhoons up to two weeks ahead.

“Sa ato new office, naay new dashboard for preparedness. We can forecast two weeks for typhoon, not like before,” Pastor said.

The improved monitoring system, he said, allows the office to anticipate possible emergencies and position food supplies in warehouses before disasters strike.

“We can anticipate, we have position of food items naa sa warehouse,” Pastor said, adding that the province is now “better than before” in terms of disaster preparedness.

The PDRRMO’s improvements are also backed by the provincial government’s proposed disaster risk reduction and management investment for 2027, which sets aside funds for preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery.

The disaster office alone has proposed P440 million for 2027 annual budget.

Under the proposal, P168 million, or 60 percent of the allocation, will go to disaster preparedness, including the acquisition of equipment for the PDRRMO, its Emergency Operations Center, and warehouses.

Another P56 million, or 20 percent, is earmarked for disaster response and early recovery, while P28 million each will be allocated for disaster prevention and mitigation, and recovery and rehabilitation.

A separate P120-million Quick Response Fund is also proposed to support emergency and disaster response, relief operations, and rehabilitation and recovery in affected areas.

The proposed investment follows Baricuatro’s directive to strengthen the preparedness of communities and local disaster risk reduction and management offices.

“Governor Pam really invested in preparedness; that is why we follow the marching order that we should prepare our communities, our local DRRMOs in the event of untoward incidents,” Pastor said in an earlier interview on the proposed allocation.

The provincial government has also established a permanent headquarters for the PDRRMO at a former quarantine and evacuation facility in Sitio Grotto, Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

The facility was rehabilitated at a cost of ?9 million before it was formally inaugurated on Jan. 9.

The nearly 10-hectare compound has five main buildings and houses a monitoring and command center equipped with a large smart LED wall, radio communications, and multiple internet connections, including Globe, Smart, and Starlink.

It also has life detectors, flood boats, and drones for search and rescue operations and damage assessment. One drone, worth ?3.5 million, has night-vision capabilities.- FPL (CEBU NEWS)