Bacolod seeks to create full disaster response department

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is pushing to elevate the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) into a full-fledged department to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response.

Councilor Caesar Distrito recently filed a proposed ordinance to institutionalize the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (BCDRRMD), in line with national standards set by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Civil Service Commission (CSC) under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2014-1.

The ordinance — co-authored by Councilors Celia Flor and Em Ang — seeks to expand the office’s organizational structure, increase staffing, and enhance operational capacity to better respond to emergencies.

Distrito emphasized the urgency of the measure, citing the city’s growing population and exposure to natural hazards.

“It’s crucial that we institutionalize a stronger, better-equipped, and fully staffed DRRM department that can respond swiftly and efficiently to emergencies,” he said in a statement.

Under the proposal, the BCDRRMD will consist of three core divisions: Administration and Training, Research and Planning, and Operations and Warning.

It also introduces new plantilla positions, including a City Government Department Head, to ensure stable leadership and long-term capability development.

“This is a proactive investment in public safety and resilience,” Distrito added.

Flor said a dedicated DRRM department would improve response times, coordination, and planning.

Ang stressed the importance of anticipating climate-induced risks.

“We must build a system that is both responsive and anticipatory,” Ang said, adding that the ordinance brings the city closer to that goal.

The proposed ordinance aligns with Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, and supports Bacolod’s goal of becoming a disaster-resilient city.

The SP is expected to take up the measure in its upcoming sessions.

The current CDRRMO is headed by Dr. Laarni Pornan.