CAUAYAN CITY – The government cannot address the negative effects of disasters and calamities all by itself, thus, it needs the support of all sectors.

For Engineer Marlo L. Iringan, OIC-Regional Director, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 02, “governance stands on three legs,” implying that the government, private and business organization and civil society organization are the three major and equally important parts of governance,  each has a critical role to play along disaster preparedness and mitigation, response, rehabilitation and recovery.

 

He said that as the disaster risk reduction and management “is too big a task to be handled by the government,” there is a need to involve the said sectors in making the local government units prepared and resilient to typhoons and other natural calamities.

 

Addressing more than 100 representatives and members of the different civil society organizations, local resource institutes, local media and DILG field-men in Isabela Province  in attendance during the “Operation Listo: Disaster Preparedness Dialogue” held on June 02, 2015 at Isabela Hotel here,  OIC-RD Iringan underlined the importance for the three sectors to work  together.

 

“It is by collaborating and sharing inputs and wisdom can we be able to address the gravest problem of mankind that is climate change,” he said while sharing his observation that nowadays  “disasters and calamities have become more intense and more frequent,” hence, the need to be always prepared.

 

On the other hand, Elpidio A. Durwin, Provincial Director, DILG-Isabela,  said the activity is part of the DILG’s Operation Listo project aimed at making the participants appreciate and identify their roles in addressing the adverse effects of disasters.

 

While he noted good response from CSOs and media especially in DRRM, he said he is looking forward to a deeper relationship among the government, private organizations and CSOs.

 

Earlier, the DILG-Isabela  Provincial Office conducted the Operation Listo Provincial Convergence at the Isabela Provincial Capitol to encourage  the local chief executives, fire marshals and chief of police in the province to formulate their disaster preparedness action plans containing the minimum requirements and preparations to carry-out in times of disasters.

 

The office is also in the thick of preparations for the conduct of the “Operation Listo WEmboree” on June 6-7, 2015 at Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela to be participated in by youth leaders across the province.

 

A new project of the DILG, Project Listo is designed to strengthen the capacity while preserving the flexibility of LGUs in responding to disasters  in their areas.