“Hindi lang mga DRRM workers… every individual ammo na dapat nu anya ti aramiden na in times of disaster” - NDRRMC Exec. Director Cabreros stresses shared duty in disaster preparedness

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Disaster preparedness should not be treated solely as the responsibility of government authorities but as a shared duty that every individual must practice.

This was emphasized by Harold Cabreros, Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), during the Cordillera Resilience Caravan in Kalinga.

The caravan was held on Thursday, April 23, at the Davidson Hotel in Bulanao, Tabuk City.

Cabreros, a native of Alicia, Isabela, led the activity, which was attended by local officials headed by James S. Edduba and Dave Odiem, along with representatives from government agencies and disaster risk reduction and management stakeholders. The gathering aimed to strengthen coordination and enhance resilience efforts in the province.

In his message, Cabreros explained that the caravan is part of the national government’s continuing efforts to boost disaster preparedness through a clear and organized framework guided by the OCD’s 7-point agenda, known as “PREPARED.”

Among the agenda’s key focus areas, he said, are enhancing the skills of disaster response personnel, strengthening civil defense at all levels, empowering communities to become self-reliant, and improving preparedness before hazards occur.

“We gathered here today for something that really matters. In fact, it’s part of our 7-point resilience agenda, where we continue to promote awareness, capacity building, and stronger community participation. All over the years, we have been working in tandem with our local government units and stakeholders to ensure that our communities are better PREPARED,” Cabreros said.

He stressed that building self-reliant communities is a key component of disaster risk reduction, noting that when people are properly trained and informed, they become more capable of mitigating the impact of disasters and responding effectively to emergencies.

“When people are equipped with the right knowledge and skills, they become more confident, more prepared, and more capable of facing challenges. Ultimately, knowledge is power in DRRM, and that knowledge can save lives,” he added.

Cabreros further reiterated that disaster preparedness must be embraced by everyone, not just DRRM offices and local officials, as part of fostering a culture of resilience.

“When people know what to do, and how and when to act, they become true partners in building safer communities. Ibig sabihin, hindi lang ang mga DRRM workers or local officials kundi every individual ay alam na kung ano ang gagawin in times of disaster—before, during, and after. Didjay po ti kayat tayo nga agkaroon ti culture of resilience,” he said.

Also present during the caravan were Albert A. Mogol, Regional Director of OCD-CAR and Chairperson of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Kalinga, and heads of provincial departments, among others.