With the aim of improving efficiency in the delivery of services during disaster response situations, the Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CVRDRRMC) steered the approval of the first Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Response Plan (CVRDRP) on February 2, 2018 at Hotel Carmelita, Tuguegarao City.

The CVRDRP, which was operationalized as a result of the creation of the National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP), is an operational plan that offers well-designed concepts and procedures for all the agencies and networks throughout the region to follow in disaster risk reduction and management.

The CVRDRP has designs that cover three activity phases namely: Pre-Disaster, During Disaster and Post Disaster which enhances the recovery and rehabilitation of affected constituents and improves the effectiveness of agencies that are mandated by the plan to serve affected constituents.

Under the said plan, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02 (DSWD FO2) is tasked with the protection of Internally Displaced Population (IDP), Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and the management of Food and Non-Food Items (FNFI).

Officer-In-Charge, Ms. Lucia S. Alan, represented the office in the signing of the CVRDRP with the concurrence of regional directors and heads from other regional agencies.

Mr. Franco G. Lopez, Social Welfare Officer IV, OIC-Head of DSWD FO2’s Protective Services Unit and overall head of the agency’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Unit, said that the approval of the CVRDRP is another step towards making Cagayan Valley more resilient in dealing with disasters and other natural calamities.

“Region 2 people are resilient when it comes to preparedness and even with the effects of disasters, they can immediately (recover) because of their (resilient) attitude and with this plan, we will be able to achieve our goal of zero casualty during disaster situations,” Mr. Lopez added.

Mr. Lopez added that the approval of the plan would not cost additional administrative cost to the agencies involved when doing disaster operations and would in fact lessen overall expenses because the said plan focuses on eliminating duplication of function across agencies and other institutions.

The CVRDRP corresponds with “The Practical Guide for National Crisis Managers” and “The National Crisis Management Core Manual” authorized by Executive Order No. 82 of 2012 issued on September 04, 2012 which confers ideas and rules for national crisis management. ### By: Chester Carlo M. Trinidad, OIC-Regional Information Officer