The Iloilo City Government, through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), inked partnership with Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc. (PTC), Smart Development Institute (SDI), Enterprise Solutions Inc. (ESI), and Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) during a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing Feb. 22.
The ceremonial signing was led by Mayor Jerry P. Treñas; CDRRMO Head Donna P. Magno; PTC’s Talent Acquisition Group (TAG) Head Capt. Ronaldo S.J. Enrile; TAG Program Manager Hector Manuel Jon C. Brizuela; ASSIST Project Management Lead Casey Anne C. Cruz; and Resiliency Improvement Support and Education Program (RISE) Lead Program Officer Josh McCarver.
Treñas expressed appreciation to the partners in bringing the resiliency initiatives to the Ilonggos.
“Iloilo City is blessed with the many technical support and assistance received from various organizations and that it becomes imperative for us to share the learned competencies with other LGUs through the planned DRRM Resilience Hub,” Treñas stressed.
“This way we could facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills to other LGUs, and create a network of resilient leaders, thus ensuring resilient communities in the region,” he added.
As provided in the MOA, RISE aims to be realized by capacitating the Ilonggos through disaster preparedness trainings and by imparting knowledge and skills to communities in terms of disaster resilience and risk management.
“The first thing that we have considered in choosing Iloilo City as one of our partners, is that it is well known, and is leading the way in disaster preparedness and resiliency. We would also want to connect with the Ilonggos for this relevant and timely program,” said McCarver.
They have identified 49 RISE disaster trainers and trained 5,448 residents since November last year.
Using the multi-sector approach, the trainings were successful because of the cooperation and support of organizations and private business establishments.
“We were able to train the PWDs, women groups, and other organizations, which we were definitely interested because Iloilo City, through the CDRRMO, has a wide network of civil society organizations,” McCarver added.
“Here at CDRRMO, we have a mandate to take the lead and ensure the policies needed. But we should come together so that we can reach more people and ensure that we are prepared in times of disaster,” Magno said.
Apart from the trainings, SDI and ESI will utilize smart-enabling technologies to design and implement a community-based mobile app called “ILOILO MOBILE,” to bridge the gap of communication and collaboration between City Government and citizens. (Angelo Miranda/Iloilo City PIO)
