DND employs new scheme on disaster preparedness
The Department of National Defense (DND) under its new head, OIC-Secretary Norberto Gonzales is implementing a new disaster preparation scheme dubbed "forward deployment system".
This was disclosed by Undersecretary Ricardo R. Blancaflor, Undersecretary for Legal and Special Concern of the DND, who was assigned to closely monitor the response preparedness measures of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council of Western Visayas, in connection with the monsoon rains brought by typhoon Bebing at the western section of the country.
Usec. Blancaflor in his meeting with the Iloilo media, said that senior defense officers were assigned by the DND Secretary to where a certain typhoon signal is raised, in order to have a well coordinated, quick response and delivery of relief operations with the concerned affected area.
While no typhoon signal was raised in Region VI, Blancaflor said that the DND would like to anticipate the result of the monsoon rains induced by the said typhoon, as it might cause floods and landslide in some areas in the region.
"This forward deployment is the first scheme initiated by Secretary Gonzales when he was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as head of the DND, as far as disaster preparedness is concerned," Blancaflor said as he emphasized that the "forward deployment- DND senior officials" will not disturb any of the preparedness plans of the RDCC.
Blancaflor also named other forward deployment DND officials as follows: USEC Ariston V. De los Reyes, Undersecretary for Internal Affairs assigned to Region IV- B;and ASEC Ruben Ciron, Assistant Secretary for Personnel whose assignment is Region V.
In response to the DND's new disaster preparedness scheme, Assistant Regional Director Eligio Calaor of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD VI) said that, with the new approach, "we are thankful and we feel the support of the NDCC."
Calaor likewise presented to Usec. Blancaflor the urgency of giving rubber boats or rescue boats for the towns of Sigma, Pana-ay and Roxas City of Capiz province.
(T.Villavert/PIA)