In a bid to ensure that devastating natural disasters such as Typhoon Ondoy will never happen again, the local government of Tanay is currently training its employees on disaster preparedness and response and climate change adaptation (DRRM/CCA).
It can be recalled that Tanay was the worst-hit municipality in Rizal province during Ondoy’s onslaught, with some 60 fatalities and millions’ worth of damages to infrastructure and agriculture.
The Tanay microwatershed found in So. Tablon, Brgy. Cuyambay overflowed at the height of Ondoy and the large volume of water rushed downstream into Tanay River. Many of the fatalities lived in So. Bayuo in Brgy. Tandang Kutyo, which is located along the riverbanks of Tanay River.
Mayor Rafael Tanjuatco had since then been actively pushing for disaster mitigation and preparedness programs, including the intensive reforestation of Tanay’s upland barangays and three watershed areas.
Tanay is also vigorously waging a crackdown on illegal logging activities particularly in the mountain barangays, as well as implementing a comprehensive solid waste management program through the local Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) under Engr. Carlos Inofre, Jr.
Inofre is the founder of Tanay Mountaineers, Inc., a Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO) and Gawad Kalasag Regional Awardee.
Mayor Tanjuatco initiated the DRRM/CCA training for LGU employees in coordination with the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office under Mr. Rafael Vicente and the Human Resource and Management Office under Ms. Vickyflor Catapusan.
The series of seminars and trainings is the LGU’s response to Section 14 of R.A. 10121 or the DRRM Act of 2010, which calls for mandatory training of public sector employees on disaster preparedness and response.
To date, the LGU has trained its employees on basic life support, first aid, vehicular extrication, water search and rescue, water sanitation and hygiene, evacuation camp management, health on emergency, and fire suppression and management. The next trainings will be on high angle/collapsed structure rescue and incident command system.
