The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) is boosting fire response operations in the region.
The Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera, which chairs the CRDRRMC, will lead a writeshop for the preparation of a Regional Disaster Response Plan (RDRP) for fire hazards that will outline the strategies and protocols to ensure a coordinated and efficient response to fire emergencies.
The activity is set on June 5 to 7 in Baguio City.
Frankie Cortez of OCD-Cordillera said the plan to be formulated will encapsulate the harmonized protocols in fire response operations.
Learned from various fire management operations will also be incorporated into the plan to help address the emerging challenges of fire hazards in the Cordillera.
As of April, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera recorded a damage cost of over P64.4 million due to fires in natural forest, grassland, and plantations.
Cortez said two clusters will be formulated under the RDRP for Fire Hazards, the Enforcement Cluster to be led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera, and the Fire Suppression Cluster to be led by the Bureau of Fire Protection.
The preparation of the RDRP for Fire Hazards is anchored on the Cordillera RDRRMC’s commitment to international DRRM and sustainable development frameworks and agreements forged by the Philippines, and the need to align with the new and reinforced framework of the updated National DRRM Plan. – Debbie E. Gasingan
