Tuba strengthens disaster response with emergency operations center
By: Hanna C. Lacsamana
TUBA, Benguet — The municipal government of Tuba is strengthening its disaster preparedness and response system by establishing a dedicated Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to ensure faster and more reliable dissemination of information during emergencies.
Vice Mayor Maria L. Carantes said the municipality conducted an EOC seminar and training last month for its members and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC).
Carantes said the EOC will allow information handling to be separated from actual rescue operations, addressing a problem previously encountered by the municipality when rescue personnel had to answer emergency calls while responding to incidents.
“Now it is better because iba na naghahandle ng mga information,” Carantes said, explaining that reports from different areas can be coursed through designated personnel who will relay them to the appropriate officials and responders.
She said the system is one way of strengthening Tuba’s disaster risk reduction and management efforts, particularly as the municipality prepares for typhoons, southwest monsoon or habagat, and other hazards.
Carantes said resilience involves understanding the municipality’s environment, potential hazards, and its capacity to respond.
For Tuba, one of the major challenges is its geographically dispersed barangays, with some communities located far from the municipal center.
“Ang talagang challenge dito yung magkakahiwalay or malalayo ang distance ng mga barangay,” she said, citing road access and communication signals as among the municipality’s concerns.
The municipal and barangay governments are working to improve communication coverage in areas with weak signals, while roads are being gradually improved, she said.
The municipality and barangays have also established group chats where information and updates during typhoons and habagat can immediately be shared with concerned officials.
Carantes said a separate National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) group chat is also being used to consolidate information and help different offices determine the appropriate actions during disasters.
But beyond government preparedness, Carantes said disaster resilience should also be a responsibility shared by individuals and communities.
She said disasters are not always purely natural, as human activities and development can contribute to the severity of their impacts.
She pointed to the increasing use of concrete structures, which can prevent rainwater from naturally seeping into the soil and instead cause water to accumulate, potentially resulting in flooding and soil erosion.
Carantes urged residents to be more responsible in constructing houses and other structures and to regularly check their downspouts, canals and waterways.
She also called for greater attention to drainage systems, saying proper drainage can help reduce the risks associated with heavy rainfall. “Hindi lahat natural ang cause ng disaster, yung iba human-made din. Ang dapat nating gawin is ayusin ang mga drainage.”
She said strengthening disaster preparedness therefore requires both improved government response mechanisms and greater responsibility among residents in managing the environment and reducing hazards within their communities.
