Disaster Response Center in Quezon City

The Quezon City government is putting up a disaster response center at the QC Hall to ensure the safety of employees and residents of the city during disasters such as fires and earthquakes. 

QC Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" R. Belmonte Jr. said he has instructed city general services office (GSO) head Rolando P. Montiel to take charge of QC Hall disaster preparedness activities. 

Belmonte said these include conducting seminar-workshops to raise the level of awareness, skills and knowledge of the employees on disaster mitigation, response and individual and team roles. 

Montiel has designated action officers whose first tasks included organizing emergency teams at GSO and other departments and offices within the QC Hall complex. 

Outside QC Hall, QC Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) chief Manuel N. Sabalza is in charge of the citywide emergency preparedness and response operations. 

At QC Hall, the GSO disaster action group organized by action officers Engr. Armingol B. Morales, Dr. Noel L. Lansang and Eufredie Orendez have started conducting seminar-workshops on basic life support or first aid and on the principles and techniques of rescue and evacuation. 

Participants in the GSO seminar-workshops included GSO teams for communication, transport, fire suppression, rescue, first aid and security. About 40 GSO personnel represented the first batch of QC Hall employees to undergo such training. 

Montiel said such training activities will also be conducted in other offices at QC Hall. Later on, there will also be emergency drills to enhance the employees' disaster preparedness. 

Meanwhile, the Disaster Risk Reduction Network Philippines (DRRNetPhils) said the Philippines is in dire need of a comprehensive law which will help communities prepare for and reduce risks from disasters. 

The 300-strong local and international civil society organizations and advocates grouped under the DRRNetPhils asked the 14th Congress as it nears adjournment for its third and last session to pass the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) bill, which aims to expand coverage of the Presidential Decree No. 1566. 

Passed in 1978, PD No. 1566 created the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) to oversee emergency response, relief and rehabilitation operations, and disaster preparedness in the short term. (PNA)