PALAYAN CITY, NUEVA ECIJA - 220 estimated participants attended the Operation Listo Provincial Convergence at the Sierra Madre Suites, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, on March 11, 2015, the first among seven lined-up events on disaster preparedness in Region 3.
The Provincial Convergence comes after the “Operation Listo” Regional Launch held on February 25, 2015 which is one of the flagship programs of the Department relative to disaster preparedness. The convergence aims to trickle down the minimum requirements an LGU must possess before the onslaught of typhoons to the city/municipal levels.
Peñaranda Mayor Ferdinand R. Abesamis represented Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali during the event and welcomed the crowd by saying that the responsibility to ensure the safety of the community is vested on the Local Chief Executives. DILG R3 Regional Director Florida M. Dijan addressed the participants by emphasizing the value of preparedness not only in the good times but also in the bad times. The activity also featured the presentation of the Provincial State of Disaster Preparedness by DILG OIC-Assistant Regional Director Abraham A. Pascua who enumerated the different efforts exerted by the province in disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation.
The highlights of the event were the turn-over of the LGU Disaster Preparedness manuals which include flowcharts to guide the local chief executives should disasters strike their LGUs, and the ceremonial signing of commitment to signify the oneness of the City and Municipal Listo teams toward the achievement of zero casualtY during calamities. An action planning workshop on the Easy and Critical Preparations for disasters was also facilitated by LGMED Chief Lerrie S. Hernandez followed by the closing remarks of ARD Pascua. The Provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga and Zambales are set to be visited by the Regional Technical Working Group in the remaining days of March to organize their own Provincial Convergences.
