Isabela City, Basilan — Governor Mujiv Hataman has called for a more aggressive and centralized disaster response strategy for the province amid increasing climate threats and intensifying natural disasters.
On Thursday, Governor Hataman convened a meeting with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to assess Basilan’s current disaster preparedness. During the meeting, he emphasized the urgent need to go beyond the status quo and build a faster, more organized, and more proactive response system.
“Hindi na sapat ang status quo. Kailangan nating maging mas maagap, mas organisado, at mas mabilis sa pagresponde sa anumang uri ng sakuna,” Hataman stated.
He underscored that public safety remains the provincial government’s top priority and warned against complacency, especially in the face of worsening environmental risks.
“Ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan ang ating pangunahing responsibilidad. Hindi tayo puwedeng magpabaya,” he added.
As part of this push, the PDRRMO will participate in a strategic planning session later this month to streamline and enhance the province’s disaster management protocols.
In a separate statement, the governor also called on the PDRRMO to engage in wider consultation efforts with all cities and municipalities across Basilan. This includes a two-day consultation involving Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) officers from local government units, under the leadership of Provincial Disaster Officer Nixon Alonzo.
The DRRM Response Cluster Stakeholders’ consultation aims to unify and centralize the disaster response system and ensure more coordinated delivery of aid and services during emergencies, in line with the directives of Governor Hataman.
These initiatives reflect the governor’s commitment to building a resilient Basilan, where all sectors of society play an active role in disaster preparedness and response.