Local governments in Palawan are being trained to strengthen disaster preparedness as climate risks intensify, with provincial officials pushing for science-based planning at the municipal level.
The provincial government conducted a two-day climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction workshop on March 23 to 24 in Roxas town, bringing together disaster and planning officers from five municipalities.
The training, organized by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), gathered 35 personnel from Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMOs) and Municipal Planning and Development Offices (MPDOs) in Roxas, El Nido, Narra, Brooke’s Point, and Sofronio Española.
Titled “Disaster Risk Reduction, Planning and Climate Change Adaptation: Enhancing Palawan’s Resilience through Governance and Science-Based Ecosystem Assessment,” the workshop focused on strengthening the capacity of local governments to plan for disasters using data and ecosystem-based approaches.
The activity aims to “mapalakas ang kakayahan ng mga Local Government Units (LGUs) sa epektibong pagtugon at pamamahala sa mga sakuna na nakabatay sa siyensya at makakalikasang pamamaraan,” the provincial government said in a press release.
Resource speakers from the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute led discussions on ecosystem assessment, risk assessment, basic mapping, and integrating disaster risk reduction into local development planning.
Barangay representatives from New Cuyo and Caramay in Roxas, along with volunteers from the Community Defense Auxiliary Group (CDAG), also joined the training.
The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to ensure that local governments are better equipped to anticipate risks and respond to disasters as climate-related threats continue to affect communities across Palawan.
