By CESAR JOLITO III
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the Negros Island Region (RDRRMC NIR), chaired by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) – NIR, has conducted a post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) for Typhoon “Tino” from May 12 to 15, as part of ongoing efforts to map damages and guide rehabilitation and recovery planning across affected areas.
The four-day activity included an orientation, two days of field validation and assessment, and a final writeshop to consolidate findings and proposed interventions.
The assessment involved a wide range of national government agencies and technical offices.
Local government units (LGUs) from Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, along with several cities and municipalities including Bacolod City-adjacent and inland areas also took part in the assessment process.
OCD-NIR Regional Director Donato Sermeno III emphasized the urgency of completing post-disaster documentation, stressing that delays in the process directly affect the delivery of assistance to affected communities.
Sermeno underscored the importance of efficiency and coordination, noting that the work contributes to long-term rehabilitation and resilience-building in disaster-affected areas.
As part of the technical sessions, Department of Budget and Management – NIR Regional Director Cherry Bravo presented the government budgeting process, highlighting the importance of the planning phase in shaping recovery funding.
Meanwhile, Engineer Ray Adrian Macalalag of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development discussed the next steps in rehabilitation planning following the completion of the PDNA report.
Field teams were deployed across affected LGUs to validate damage reports, assess losses and gather community testimonies on the impact of Typhoon “Tino.”
A writeshop followed to consolidate programs, activities and projects submitted by agencies and local governments, ensuring alignment with recovery priorities.
Prior to the formal assessment, the OCD-NIR Rehabilitation and Recovery Management Service coordinated multiple preparatory meetings and site visits with member agencies and provincial disaster risk reduction offices to ensure a coordinated and standardized assessment process.
Officials said the PDNA is expected to serve as a key foundation for crafting a comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery plan for affected communities in NIR, strengthening interagency coordination and improving disaster resilience moving forward./CJ, WDJ