(Photo: NDRRMC)
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) welcomed Tuesday, Aug. 26, a techie officer and retired Philippine Army major general as its new administrator and concurrently, the new executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Harold N. Cabreros, who joined the OCD after retiring from the military service in 2017, is seen to use his leadership and managerial skills as a retired PA officer in leading the country’s disaster preparedness and emergency efforts.
Cabreros took oath before NDRRMC Chairman and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. He now holds the title undersecretary.
“Congratulations Usec. Harold N. Cabreros on your appointment as the new OCD Administrator and NDRRMC Executive Director. Wishing you all the best as you lead us towards a prepared and resilient nation,” the OCD said in a statement.
Cabreros took over from Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, who served as the officer-in-charge of the OCD since July 2.
He is known for using tech-driven initiatives in enhancing the country’s disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) efforts.
Earlier this month, Cabreros represented the OCD at the 21st APEC Emergency Preparedness Working Group Meeting and 18th Senior Disaster Management Officials’ Forum held in Incheon, South Korea.
There, he shared with the audience several initiatives such as GeoRiskPH, a multi-agency platform for hazard and risk assessment, and PhilAWARE (Philippine All-hazards Warning, Analysis, and Risk Evaluation System), an all-hazards risk monitoring and decision-support platform that consolidates real-time data on natural and human-induced hazards.
Prior to the appointment, Cabreros had served as the director for rehabilitation and recovery management services of the OCD, director of administrative and financial management service, and regional director of OCD in Cagayan Valley (Region 2), among others.
A product of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Maharlika” Class of 1984, he also held key positions in the Army including as its vice commander, chief of Army’s Office of the Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA), commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, and deputy commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command among others.
The native of Alicia, Isabela also served in various military units in Northern Luzon.