By CESAR JOLITO III
The Office of Civil Defense in the Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) has intensified its inspection of local government units (LGUs) along Negros Occidental’s western seaboard to ensure readiness against earthquakes and possible tsunami threats from the Negros Trench.
OCD-NIR Regional Director Donato Sermeno III led the field inspections in the cities of Sipalay and Himamaylan, as well as Ilog town — areas considered vulnerable to seismic activity due to their proximity to the undersea fault line.
The initiative follows a recent series of earthquakes recorded across the country.
“We need to make sure that our coastal LGUs are compliant with the Building Code and that their disaster response systems are functional,” Sermeno said, emphasizing the need for preparedness to minimize casualties and damage in the event of a strong quake.
In Sipalay City, known for its coastal tourism zones and mining areas, Sermeno met with city cluster heads and disaster officials to assess infrastructure compliance and emergency response capacity.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer Dionilo Bogtae reported that Sipalay has already established substations in remote barangays, each manned by trained Barangay Emergency Response Teams.
Two radio repeaters are also in place to ensure faster coordination during emergencies.
In Ilog, officials showcased their hazard map developed two years ago to pinpoint high-risk communities and evacuation routes.
Identified evacuation sites have been prepared for possible tsunami scenarios, while regular community drills continue to strengthen residents’ readiness.
Meanwhile, in Himamaylan City, the OCD-NIR team joined the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis Training, where Sermeno underscored the importance of timely and accurate reporting to guide effective disaster response and recovery operations.
Sermeno said the inspection series is part of the agency’s region-wide audit of local preparedness systems, particularly for coastal LGUs exposed to the Negros Trench.
“The goal is to ensure that all local governments have updated contingency plans, trained responders, and functional early warning systems,” he added./CJ, WDJ