Cebu province unprepared vs disasters

Newly assumed Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Dennis Francis Pastor described Cebu yesterday as “not disaster-ready” and in a “bad state.”

“Surprisingly, it’s in a bad state. We are not disaster-ready. It has been neglected for the past six years,” he told DAILY TRIBUNE.

The PDRRMO lacks both manpower and equipment rendering the province vulnerable.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has already committed to procure critical response assets, including sea ambulances, on top of land-based ambulances to serve isolated and high-risk areas.

“We need to improve our capabilities in terms of search and rescue,” Pastor said.

The governor said the province needs to acquire at least two sea ambulances, one of which will be stationed in either Danao City for Camotes island, and the other in San Remigio or Bogo City to serve Bantayan island.

Pastor emphasized that transporting patients from island towns is often delayed due to limited ferry schedules.

In a separate interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE, Office of the Civil Defense in Central Visayas (OCD-7) Regional Director Joel Erestain welcomes the observation of Pastor.

“We are ready to sit down and discuss with them how we at the OCD VII can help them move forward,” he stressed.

“Further, OCD VII welcomes the Governor’s pronouncements in elevating the PDRRMO into a Department. It befits Cebu being a premier province of the country,” Erestain added.

PDRRMO is coordinating with the Provincial Health Office to utilize funds from the Disaster Risk Management Fund to support health-related initiatives aligned with the Governor’s priorities.

PDRRMO receives a budget equivalent to 5 percent of the total provincial revenue, as mandated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.