The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is eyeing the establishment of more mobile command centers and training programs in a bid to further strengthen the disaster response in the country.
OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said the modernization program for the OCD was discussed during the meeting with the agency’s senior officials that was held amid the impact of the strong earthquake that hit Japan on New Year’s day.
“We want to systematically plan everything for the success of our plans and projects. With the help of our stakeholders, we strive to attain our goals and objectives and deliver better civil defense and DRRM services to the public,” said Nepomuceno.
Some of the programs discussed include the formation and augmentation of DRRM teams; establishment of additional facilities such as the mobile command centers; reinforcement of DRRM partnerships with various sectors; launching of a civil defense training institute; enhancement of OCD’s systems; development of resilience master plans; among others.
Nepomuceno during the meeting emphasized the importance of having a clear direction that will facilitate effective prioritization of programs and identification of appropriate strategies.
He said they are also set to conduct a series of related meetings to further tackle the operational plan for its programs and projects.
Nepomuceno said massive earthquake that hit Japan is a reminder to continuously reinforce the Philippines’ preparedness against the threats of earthquakes and other hazards through the whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach.
“We want to again emphasize the importance of collective effort in prevention, mitigation and preparedness activities as we work to build a safe and disaster resilient country,” said Nepomuceno.