By Leslie Ann Aquino
The church is willing to collaborate with Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso especially when it comes to disaster preparedness.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo
(CBCP NEWS / ROY LAGARDE / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In an interview, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the private sector, the church and the government should work "hand in hand" to prepare ourselves for any disaster.
He said this after it was revealed that the nation's capital is not yet ready for the "Big One".
The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) admitted to Domagoso that Manila, unlike neighboring cities, does not have concrete DRRM management plan nor a detailed hazard map.
Domagoso convened the disaster council members after a report from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) revealed that the Manila City government’s preparedness to respond to any disaster was deemed a “total failure.”
"If we are not ready for the BIG ONE then we can use the time and resources to make ourselves ready," Pabillo said.
When asked how the church can concretely help, he replied: This can be discussed in preparedness meetings that the mayor can organize.
On the part of the church, the Ministry for Environment and Disaster Response of the Archdiocese of Manila have already organized disaster response teams in parishes.
Domagoso paid Pabillo and the Manila clergy a "courtesy call" last month before he assumed his post.