Multi-stakeholders in Aurora discussed Disaster Risk Management Agenda

20 MAY 2022,DINGALAN, AURORA –The Municipality of Dingalan in the province of Aurora is a typical tropical town with a lot of lush forest growth, crystal clear seas, and rivers as essential water sources, attractive areas for marine development, and agricultural development potential. However, behind this beauty are the threats of natural disasters and hazards, as the municipality is prone to earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, and typhoons; not to mention the threats of human induced hazards in their area.

With Kilusang Lima para sa Lahat MPC (K5 Coop) as a partner in the Central Luzon networking activities, A-PAD PH held a Multi-Stakeholder Forum on May 20, 2022 at the Municipality of Dingalan together with Dingalan MDRRMO. This event is intended to (1) expand and strengthen the participation of private sectors and other organizations in DRRM, (2) update participants on the disaster risk situation in Aurora, (3) provide a venue for developing a DRM agenda for key sectors of the economy where current policies are insufficient to enable the mainstreaming of the same at all levels of planning and program implementation, and (4) forge links on the prospects of local and national partnerships in reducing risk and raising resilience among private organizations and government agencies alike.

This forum was attended by more than ten representatives from local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations, business sector, media, academia, and government. It is the first A-PAD PH activity conducted in the region and it looks forward to develop and establish more partnerships in Central Luzon with the support of K5 Coop.

The program highlights were introduction of A-PAD PH and its program and services, workshop in identifying current DRRM programs of each participating organization, presentation of Muncipal Disaster Risk Situation and DRRM Plan and Local Climate Change Action Plan, and the Role of the Private Sectors in DRRM.

During the workshop, participants were divided per sector and each group has identified their existing DRRM activities and services, gaps and challenges, and recommendations on how to further improve their DRRM plans. With this, the forum has provided a venue to share the challenges faced by the private sectors in implementing DRRM activities which can already be addressed with the help of the local government of Dingalan. Further, it has opened an opportunity for the private sectors, civil society organizations, government and A-PAD PH to work together in disaster risk management.