By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Office of Civil Defense-Region VI (OCD-6) yesterday held a seminar in Bacolod City for members of various Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices (DRRMO), rescue volunteers, and the private sector.
Among those present included representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
OCD-6 Capability, Building, and Training Section chief Melissa Banias said the aim of the seminar was to give rescue workers additional information on disaster awareness.
Representatives from Negros Occidental local government units were also invited to offer ideas and remind them of their responsibilities in disaster preparation, response, and rehabilitation.
Banias pointed out, rescue workers need to be prepared to handle any disaster, such as typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions; or man-made events, such as armed conflict.
Among OCD-6 concerns included the ongoing unrest at Mt. Kanlaon, which remains under an “Alert Level 2.”
Provincial DRRMO head Zeaphard Caelian, meanwhile, said the seminar was a big help, especially to the volunteers.
Caelian said they are mulling a memorandum of understanding between volunteer groups and the government in order to formulate a more organized system for disaster response./DGB, WDJ