Across the country, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices stands as the first line of defense whenever calamity strikes. Overtime, these offices have become synonymous with emergency response – operating rescue units, ambulance services, and even cadaver transport functions. In some areas, hospitals rely to LDRRMO on their patient transport. While these activities are essential in saving lives, they consume much of LDRRMO’s attention, manpower and funds. As a result, the broader and much strategic functions, and in fact, mandates of disaster risk reduction are being left behind.
As stated in Republic Act 10121, also known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the LDRRMO is mandated to lead the implementation of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) program across the four (4) thematic areas: prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation and recovery. The laws intention is a proactive, science based and community centered approach in disaster management. One that minimizes and manages the risk long before hazards occur and develop into emergencies.
However, the present situation in many local government units tells a different story. LDRRMO’s have evolved into heavily response-oriented offices, focusing primarily on rescue operations, medical transport and post-disaster/emergency assistance. While these services are undeniably important, they have overshowed the equally critical mandates of Disaster Risk Reduction planning, hazard and risk mapping, data base gathering and development and Geo-tagging of critical elements at risk to aid sound developmental decision-making, risk transfer and insurance mechanism, capacity development through trainings on disaster preparedness, DRR and climate change adaptation.
These neglected areas are the foundation of true resilience. Without comprehensive and updated hazard mapping, local governments cannot make informed decisions on land use infrastructure placement or resource allocation. Without DRR education and community empowerment, citizens remain passive recipients of aids and reduced to victims instead of active partners on risk reduction. Without consistent research to support prevention and mitigation projects, emerging risks from climate change and urban growth remains unaddressed. This imbalance creates a cycle of dependency and reactive governance. Every disaster response drains significant resources leaving little room for forward looking investment.
The cycle repeats – the same communities are affected by the same hazards year after year, because the roof causes of vulnerability were never reduced.
It is therefore crucial to redefine the operational structure and priorities of LDRRMOs. Rescue, ambulance, and cadaver retrieval and transport services can be transmitted to agencies mandates to do the functions such as the Bureau of fire protection for rescue and retrieval and the health offices for patient transport or shared with specialized response units and partner organizations or corporations and companies in the province. This shift would allow LDRRMOs to redirect their attention and budget towards strengthening risk assessment, prevention, mitigation, education, and preparedness – the areas that truly embody disaster risk reduction.
Building a resilient community does not begin with rescue operations. In some instances, rescue operations are the result of an unprepared governance or un-managed risk and less involved citizenry. Building resilience begins with knowledge, planning and empowerment. When communities understand their hazards, when mitigating measures are in place, and when preparedness is a shared responsibility, the need for rescue operations naturally declines.
If we keep on focusing our investments on emergency response and rescue, then we will have what we wish for – we will have to rescue repeatedly. But if we refocus our investment in risk reduction effort, viewing DRR as a developmental tool, then we are leading towards a future where rescue is less needed because resilience in its full essence is already built.
