The Barangay of Bago Aplaya, a coastal area in Talomo District, has strengthened its Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (BDRRMC) as the barangay leadership sets disaster management as its top priority for this year, said Barangay Chair Isidro Dujali.
In 2006, the barangay was hit by a monsoon waves where 70 households evacuated.
Almost all of the houses along the coast were severely damaged.
Fishermen were heavily affected.
Dujali said it was recorded as the most devastating calamity to hit the barangay, around 10 kilometers south of City Hall.
Despite the incident recording zero casualties, the severe property damage prompted the barangay to focus on disaster management from then on.
At Friday’s Connect Science, Health and Wellness Forum at SM Lanang Premier, City DRRMO and Central 911 Training Director Lyndon Leovic Ancajas emphasized that during emergencies, the fist level of response should be within the immediate community and the second level is the barangay, before contacting the central emergency response centers.
From the total Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the barangay, five percent goes to the BDRRMC.
As of this year, the barangay’s IRA is P1,287,800.48, with 5% allocated for disaster preparedness and infrastructure.
Some P500,000 has been collected from 2013 to 2016 under a special trust fund allowed by the Department of Interior and Local Government.
The BDRRMC is capacitating the barangay through the provision of trainings and seminars such as the Community Emergency Response Training (CERT).
The barangay produced 33 graduates which include high school students.
The barangay also declared that they have already purchased rescue equipment like helmets, life jackets, stretch boards, medical kits, and trauma kits, among others.
Dujali also mentioned that they are planning to purchase fire trucks for advanced rescue operations. As of date, they own a disaster rescue vehicle although it has still to be placed with sticker to be officially used for rescue.
The barangay captain also affirmed that they will participate in the second city-wide shakeout drill on the 27th of this month. Last year, 600 from Barangay Bago Aplaya participated in the activity.
