The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region IX today conducts a region-wide “Tapatan” activity on disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation at the Grand Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City .

With DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo as guest of honor and speaker, the Zamboanga Tapatan is the sixth of a series of regional forums on disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation with the theme: “Magtapatan Tayo; Handa na ba kayo?".

DILG Region IX Dir. Paisal O. Abutazil said the Tapatan is aimed at developing a culture of preparedness among local government units so that they will be able to respond effectively to disasters and mitigate the adverse effects of every calamity that may occur.

Abutazil said the one-day forum will be participated in by the region local chief executives – governors, city and municipal mayors – Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (DRRMOs), regional line agencies of the government, non-government organizations, civil society organizations and media.

The highlights of the Tapatan will be Sec. Robredo’s call to action to local governments to be prepared in times of disasters, and the signing of the covenant on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation of the participants to manifest their resolve to prioritize their disaster and climate change plans and initiatives.

The activity will also include the awarding of “Performance Challenge Fund” (PCF) checks to recipients local government units in the region, and the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on PCF and Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA.

During the Tapatan topics related to disaster and climate change such as, impact and challenges on DRRM on Geological Hazards, weather forecasting, understanding earthquakes, national/regional policy framework plan on disaster risk reduction and climate change, and DILG’s response in enhancing LGU capacity on disaster and climate change, will be discussed.

The conduct of the Tapatan is in line with Republic Act 1021, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2012, which emphasizes the urgency and significance of placing disaster preparedness on top of the priority development agenda of LGUs, and Memorandum Circular 2010-143, which directs the strengthening of LGU capacity, particularly the disaster risk reduction and management councils to prepare for disasters. ###

DILG Central News Archive DILG Regional News Archive