The 17 city and municipal mayors of Metro Manila and other local officials will converge today (July 12) for a forum on disaster preparedness and climate change with the rules on classes and work suspension due to typhoons and other calamities, topping the agenda.

Dubbed as “Tapatan Roadshow on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation,” the one-day affair is being spearheaded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in coordination with the DILG –NCR office, and will be held at SMX convention center Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo has confirmed that President Benigno S. Aquino III will grace the occasion as guest of honor and speaker.

Robredo said that also expected to attend the activity are cabinet members, barangay officials of Metro Manila, local chief executives of Region III high risk areas around the Pampanga river basin, NCR-Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officers (LDRRMOs), representatives from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-government Organizations (NGOs).

He explained that the issue on who shall make the necessary announcement for the cancellation or suspension of classes in Metro Manila due to typhoons, flooding and heavy rains under Executive Order 66, will be discussed thoroughly in a dialogue with concerned local officials.

“Hopefully, we will come up with the mechanics on the effective implementation of EO 66 particularly in the metropolis, ” Robredo added.

The provision of EO 66 became a controversial issue last week when Metro Manila local officials failed to make the necessary announcement after heavy rains flooded some areas in the metropolis.

Section 2 of said EO provides that in the absence of typhoon signal warnings, localized cancellation or suspension of classes and work in government offices may be implemented by local chief executives as chairmen of the LDRRMCs.

It further provides that announcements should be made not later than 4:30 AM of the day of the intended cancellation of classes and work, or not later than 11:00 AM for suspension of work and classes in the afternoon session, through diverse mass media.

Aside from EO 66, other topics to be discussed during the forum include disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, disaster response, rehabilitation and recovery.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will present their Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives, while the cities of Pasig, Quezon, Marikina and Makati will present their respective good practices on disaster preparedness.

The NCR tapatan, the 13th regional forum to be conducted by the Department nationwide, is in line with Republic Act 10121, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which emphasizes the urgency and significance of placing disaster preparedness on top of the priority agenda of LGUs, and Memorandum Circular 2010-143, which directs the strengthening of LGU capacity, particularly the local DRRMCs to prepare for disasters. ###

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