TACLOBAN CITY – To enhance disaster response coordination in Eastern Visayas, the regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) are rolling out a standardized disaster reporting system to improve situational assessments and emergency response efforts.
On Tuesday, Feb.25, officials from both agencies discussed the implementation of the harmonized disaster response reporting template which aims to streamline data submission for situational reports during disasters.
The initiative seeks to eliminate redundancies, minimize delays, and provide local government units (LGUs) with a more efficient reporting system for relaying critical disaster-related data to national government agencies.
The introduction of the harmonized disaster response reporting template marks a significant step toward a more coordinated and resilient disaster management system in Eastern Visayas.
With strengthened partnerships and a proactive approach, national and local agencies are working together to ensure a more responsive and efficient disaster response mechanism.
Engr. Duke Renz Peñaranda of DICT 8 presented the agency’s strategic roadmap for the pilot testing and monitoring of the template, which will initially be implemented in Biliran province.
The timeline includes: March 2025, capacity building and template deployment; March-April 2025, pilot testing and monitoring;May 2025, evaluation and refinement; and June 2025,policy integration and sustainability planning.
Representing DILG 8 were Engr. Romeo Faller, Jr. and Vher Kleo Atuel from the Disaster Resiliency and Environmental Protection Section (DREP), who pledged full support for the initiative.
They also proposed a face-to-face meeting with the core group before launching the training for capacity building and template deployment to ensure clear role assignments and a shared understanding among stakeholders.
The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 8 and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 8, reinforcing inter-agency collaboration for a more effective disaster response framework in the region.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
