Gov’t, private sector form multi-sectoral disaster body

CEBU, Philippines — The government won't have to handle disasters alone.

For a more systematic means of dealing with calamities, multi-sectoral body on disaster management for Central Visayas has been formed that will bring in various entities from the government, private sector and civil society organizations.

The Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster (A-PAD) Management was officially introduced here on Friday that serves as framework in pooling of efforts and sharing of resources between the involved agencies that aims to strengthen collaboration and cooperation.

Baltazar Tribunalo, Jr., chief of Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, which is part of the alliance, said disaster risk management is most efficient when there is coordinative and systematic way of handling such.

He said there is a need for the private sector, such as the professionals, the academe and the religious, to also come in to provide complementary efforts that may fill in the gaps of what the government may need.

The system becomes timely as Cebu's capacity to respond to disasters was tested following the series of natural disasters, including the recent tragic landslide in Naga City last September 20.

Tribunalo said the state disaster managers also have come to realize the vital role of the private sector or the non-government organization in assisting to disaster or emergency response.

Such as from the academic, he took as an example, the psychologist students may help in providing psychosocial intervention to the victims that may be suffering from trauma or shock.

He clarified that these assistance or methods in disaster management has already been existent since Cebu experienced great disasters like the 2013 super typhoon Yolanda that hit northern Cebu.

Tribunalo said the creation of the alliance is an advantage since there is already a structured special body that clearly stipulates the responsibilities of the respective members.

A-PAD is a trans-national disaster aid alliance that works to facilitate cooperation and understanding between government offices, private companies, and non-government organizations in the Asia Pacific region.

Here in the country, which is vulnerable to natural calamities, the A-PAD regional platforms are utilized as framework for collaboration of efforts at the local level.

The alliance in Central Visayas is comprised of various institutions such as the civil society organizations, private sectors, government units, media institutions, and the academe, among others.

The launching of A-PAD for Central Visayas was held on Friday (Oct 12) at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

The members commit to understand more disaster risk management and provide timely and relevant disaster preparedness, response, early recovery and rehabilitation. (FREEMAN)