TUGUEGARAO CITY, March 6 (PIA) — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 2 is set to start the second level of assessment and evaluation of local government units (LGUs) to obtain the seal of disaster preparedness.

Marydine Cambri, focal person on the seal of disaster preparedness, said that last year there were 47 LGUs that were enlisted as pilot areas for the first level assessment and evaluation for the seal.

She said the towns are those that were categorized as high risks or within the flood, landslide and tsunami prone areas in the region.

“The first level was the assessment on their preparedness before the occurrence of a calamity. We evaluated their capacity in conducting search and rescue as well as their programs and initiatives in preparation for any eventuality,” Cambri said.

For the second phase of the project, Cambri said that the towns selected will already be assessed on how they manage and protect the lives, limbs and properties of their constituents against any disaster such as typhoon, flood, fire, tsunami and earthquake.

She explained that based on their initial assessments, majority of the LGUs became aware of the requirements in preparation for any disaster events as specified in the Republic Act No. 10121 or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

“We observed that they are striving very hard to implement what is in the law. Majority of them have already created their disaster councils and established their DRRM office with equipage as well as their local disaster plans. These are the major inputs that we need to see in every municipality with of course the full support of the local officials and council members on disaster,” Cambri said.

Cambri further added that the 47 LGUs will proceed to the second phase in addition to others that will also undertake the first level of assessment for this year.

On monetary rewards, Cambri explained that they are still waiting for the final order if how much an LGU will receive if granted the seal of disaster preparedness.