The role of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) is to integrate the BDRRM Plan into their Barangay Development Plan (BDP) for it to be appropriated with a budget and supported by policy. However, the plan entails policies and actions for the implementation of programs and projects following four thematic areas: prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and recovery. The plan proposes structural and non-structural measures for DRRM. Such plans should be supported by evidence for them to become efficient and appropriate solutions for DRR-related issues. Furthermore, such data and evidence can be better understood if these are seen and visualized.
Thus, the Naga City Resilience Council (NCRC), the Liga ng mga Barangay, and Ateneo de Naga University – Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research (INECAR) conducted a series of Barangay Hazard Map Localization Workshop from June 28 to July 2, 2021. It was attended by approximately 108 participants composed of members of the BDRRMC of the 27 Barangays in Naga City. The participants were organized into clusters so that only 3 barangays attended per batch. There were 2 batches in a day, one in the morning and another in the afternoon to comply with the allowed capacity of the venue following the IATF guidelines for gatherings. The said activity was held at the Session Hall of Liga ng mga Barangay Office, City Hall Compound, Naga City.
This activity was facilitated on site by Mr. Edilberto “Joy” San Carlos of the Naga City Public Safety Office (PSO) and Naga City Resilience Council, and, Mr. Elmer Sto. Domingo of the Ateneo de Naga University – Center for Community Development (CCD). Further, workshop discussions and instructions were given online by personnel of INECAR namely: Ms. Joanaviva C. Plopenio, Mr. Jayrik San Buenaventura, and Mr. Jay P. Abawag. The Local Government Operations Officer Lino Ruperto R. Boncodin, Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Naga, Liga ng mga Barangay President PB Antonio B. Beltran, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Ernesto Elcamel were also present during the event.
Before the workshop proper, a short video presentation relative to the brief background of the activity was shown. It was followed by a session on Rapid Hazard Exposure Vulnerability (HEV) Assessment using a given template. This session is necessary for the participants to determine at least on estimates the total number of affected and exposed households and populations including those vulnerable individuals such as Persons With Disabilities (PWD), Children, and Senior Citizens within the zone or sitio level by their identified hazards. After which, a video recording on the basics of map reading was shown to provide the participants with the basic skills necessary in reading an actual map. The last session was the actual validation of hazard maps into the zone or sitio level of each barangay. Draft printed copies of the barangay hazards, critical infrastructures, and base maps were given to the participants to work on. Instructions were given online as well as onsite by the facilitators.
(Top) Video presentation showing the recent disasters in Naga,
(Middle, left) sample template of the Rapid HEV Assessment, (Middle, right) Map Reading video recording presentation,
and (Below) workshop activities during the validation workshop proper.
The activity aimed to localize the hazard maps which are part of the Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) maps package generated for the city into the barangay level through validation of hazards including the physical changes observed in every zone or sitio. This event was made possible through the support of the Office of the Liga ng mga Barangay, the Barangay Councils of the 27 barangays, Naga City Resilience Council, and the Public Safety Office.
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