Accents
Prepared, responsive, resilient
Prepared, responsive, resilient communities. Put another way, communities that are well-equipped, quick to respond, and quick to recover in times of calamities. These are what the recently-created NGO (non-governmental organization) in Panay is aiming for. PCDR, short for Panay Center for Disaster Response, articulated this objective in the theme of its first general assembly, Aug. 11, 2009, at the Residence Hotel, Iloilo City: “Uphold and strengthen a grassroots-based network towards more effective disaster preparedness and response.” Discussing ways and means to make PCDR’s objective a reality are representatives from various NGOs of related advocacies.
As the new NGO on disaster response in Panay, PCDR’s founding was the off-shoot of concerted efforts to help the victims of Typhoon Frank that devastated the whole of Panay last year. Out of the catastrophe, an adhoc committee was formed with Armie Almero as executive director. The group pulled their efforts to help 2,840 families distributed in the towns of Oton, Janiuay, Pavia , Dumangas, Leganes and five districts of Iloilo City. Various forms of aids went to around 5,000 typhoon Frank victims. Their collective minds came up with a vision, mission, and goals spelled out in black and white:
Vision: We envision communities where people have effective control of their lives, where they are prepared, responsive and resilient in times of disasters and where they can independently chart their progressive and ecologically balanced future.
Mission: PCDR is committed to assist affected and vulnerable communities and in coping with disasters and to bring about the realization of people-based and people-oriented disaster response in the communities.
Goals: (1) For Panay Center for Disaster Response, Inc. (PCDR) to become an effective partner of communities in disaster preparedness and response. (2) For PCDR to be a recognized and respected NGO on disaster response works in Panay.
Serious in realizing the foregoing vision, mission, and goals, the group had PCDR registered in the DSWD and SEC with the following members of the board of directors: Estela Paredes, chair; Tomasito Talledo, vice chair; Armie Almero, secretary; Aimee Chua, treasurer; Karen Faith Villaprudente, auditor; and Glicerio Calaor, Jose Ely Garachico, Atty.Wilbert Ariel Igoy, and Atty. Teopisto Melliza, members. Oath-taking administered by Atty. Rodolfo Lagoc of ILAC (Iloilo Legal Assistance Center) took place in the general assembly.
PCDR has identified major disaster preparedness constraints: (1) Climate change that results in typhoons, floods, landslides, strong winds and hurricanes, pests and epidemics; (2) The destruction of Panay’s natural environment that affect the remaining mineral resources, forestry, marine and water resources exacerbated by the government’s effort to further auction and offer to multi-national corporations the exploitation of our natural resources, in turn resulting in war or militarization; (3) Industry’s neglect of their operations’ negative environmental impacts while projecting an image of environmental responsibility through corporate green and social washing; (4) Further pollution of the air, earth and water ecosystems because of uncontrolled—mainly industrial and commercial—dumping and emission of wastes and pollutants; and (5) the flooding of Iloilo due to its low topography and the obstruction of the Iloilo Flood Control Project.
A people-based and people-oriented disaster response was applied in extending assistance to the 118 relocated families of Igpaho, Tubungan, victimized by the recent disastrous landslide that has displaced 351 families. Even before the heavy downpour made its toll, rice and other material goods were already on the way to cushion the impact of the disaster. The most vulnerable sector of Tubungan received aid when aid was needed most.
When remnants of the old kaingin system were mentioned as one cause of the landslide, a strong reaction came from Sonny Talibo, spokesperson of FIFA (Federation of Iloilo Farmers’ Association). He criticized corporations and illegal loggers as the bigger culprits viewed against the small farmers who must eke out a day-to-day living. If to be recalled, the February 17, 2006 landslide in Guisaugon, Southern Leyte that had wiped out a barangay was caused by the lumber-exporting operations and mining explorations of big business.
In the face of calamities—whether man-made or nature-caused—PCDR reaffirms its commitment to pursue the following: reliance on the people’s capacity and creative response; putting premium on disaster preparedness; sustainability of programs and projects; and stewardship of the earth and its resources, e.g., to be more pro-active rather than reactive. Its specific programs and services revolve on relief and rehabilitation; networking; education, research and training of stakeholders; and advocacy.
PCDR is on the all-out to establish prepared, responsive, resilient communities in Panay — come hell or high water as the saying goes. Success is what we will be writing next.
(Email: lagoc@hargray.com)