NGCP reinforcing disaster preparedness of partner-communities (Sabong News)

As the country’s power facilities are highly vulnerable when natural calamities strike, system operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has also been working double time to reinforce the disaster-preparedness of partner-communities so they can be prepared when they are pounded by catastrophic events. Through its Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) training project, NGCP indicated that it has been continuing “to build the resiliency of its host communities to prepare and respond to natural hazards.” Under the program, the transmission firm said it has been providing training on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) not just to help communities prepare during calamities, but also to mitigate the impact of such extreme weather conditions and how they can step up response. “NGCP is aware of the country’s susceptibility to natural calamities, particularly typhoons and earthquakes, as well as other hazards which may severely affect the lives and livelihood of our host communities,” the company stressed. It emphasized that with the DRRM project, “we equip them with the knowledge and skills to mitigate the effects of these disasters,” adding that these disaster-exposed communities “can be assured that we will continue to find ways to support their goals of zero casualty and minimal damage to all sectors of the community when a calamity occurs.” The transmission company noted it has been engaging the participation of local leaders and community members on a three-day training program, which typically involves “the basic concepts and principles of DRRM, the process of hazard risk assessment, and DRRM frameworks.” In addition, partner-communities are apprised on how to “recalibrate their respective Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) and develop contingency plans to lay out their early warning systems, communication protocols, and systematic evacuation procedures.” According to NGCP, it has been pursuing these training activities since 2017, involving at least 11,000 individuals from 353 barangays and two state universities. So far, the cities and municipalities already covered by NGCP in its disaster-preparedness training initiatives include Isabela, Ifugao, Quirino, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Camarines Sur provinces that had been hit hard by typhoon Ompong in 2018. Other beneficiary provinces had been Leyte, Samar, and Southern Leyte – areas which had been the eye of the storm during the extreme devastation wrought by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013. Also included were the the provinces of Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Surigao del Norte which were pummeled by typhoons Vinta and Urduja in 2017. NGCP pointed out some of their community-partners in the training programs were also adversely affected by the extreme flooding due to heavy downpour from typhoons Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses in 2020.