Davao City, Philippines – A group of 28 officials from the League of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (LDRRMO) of Ilocos Sur conducted a benchmarking activity on November 20 to learn from the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office’s (CDRRMO) innovative practices. The event was held at the Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO).
Engr. Michael B. Padayao, head of the LDRRMO Municipal Government Department of Ilocos Sur, emphasized in a letter to Davao City Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte the importance of adopting Davao City’s strategies in disaster risk reduction, management, and climate change adaptation (CCA). A particular focus of their interest was Davao City’s Central 911 services, known for their efficiency and accessibility.
“This activity is a significant step that fosters knowledge sharing and strengthens our shared responsibility to implement effective DRRM-CCA practices,” said Engr. Padayao.
The benchmarking session featured a comprehensive presentation led by Chrison John Bandol, Personnel Development Assistant from CDRRMO’s Operations and Warning Division. Bandol discussed Davao City’s early warning systems, evacuation planning, training methodologies, and research initiatives. He highlighted the city’s proactive governance, which has successfully minimized disaster-related casualties.
“As an essential component of city governance, Davao City DRRMO has proven its capability to deliver timely early warnings and information to communities, saving lives and protecting property,” Bandol said.
The officials also explored the city’s advanced monitoring systems, including river and coastal surveillance, outdoor mass notification systems, and rescue operations. The delegation was introduced to state-of-the-art equipment and vehicles used by the Emergency Division, the Davao Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, and the fire department.
The visit further strengthened ties between Davao City and Ilocos Sur, particularly Tagudin, which became Davao’s sister municipality on June 23, 2021.
Aside from disaster preparedness, Ilocos Sur officials noted potential areas of collaboration, including agriculture, tourism, trade, and cultural exchange. Known for its thriving industries such as farming, fishing, abel-weaving, and calamansi processing, Ilocos Sur aims to integrate lessons learned from Davao’s innovations into its local governance.
This is not the first collaboration between the two regions. In previous years, Tagudin officials visited Davao City to learn from various local government offices, focusing on good governance and sustainable solutions.
The benchmarking activity marks a step forward in fostering a culture of disaster resilience across the Philippines through knowledge sharing and inter-regional collaboration.
