PDRRMO Isabela’s top-of-the-line state-of-the-art vehicles, equipments and gadgets took center stage once again at the Summit dubbed “Iba na ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities” conducted by the Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Office of Civil Defense.

     Some 250 delegates from LGUs in the Cagayan Valley region and representatives of the academe converged at the Pulsar Hotel in Tuguegarao City for the two-day summit graced by eminent scientists and experts led by Dr. Renato Solidum of PHIVOLCS and Dir. Landrico Dalida, Jr. of PAGASA. Secretary Manuel Mamba, Presidential Legislative Liaison was keynote speaker.

     The summit was aimed at providing awareness on new technologies and mitigation measures on the occurrence of natural calamities and disasters as well as timely information in the use of science- based technologies and gadgets to prevent or minimize the loss of lives. 

 

     Upon the request of DOST Regional Director Urdujah Tejada, the equipments were displayed at the venue to enable the participants to better appreciate the importance of the resources in their disaster preparedness initiatives. PDRRMO and DART 831 personnel conducted a demonstration on how the equipments are used and addressed questions raised by the participants.

     The equipments have become constant fixtures in huge and very important events like the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Summit in Tuguegarao City and the first Regional Climate Change Summit hosted by the province of Isabela.

     Governor Faustino Dy expressed gratitude for the interest generated by the PDRRMO’s equipage. “Participation in such exhibits is part of our advocacy, our way of encouraging local executives in the Cagayan Valley region to invest in these equipments in order to strengthen disaster preparedness in their respective localities,”he said.

     PDRRMO Isabela is gaining a sterling reputation in the country for its excellent vehicles and equipments. “Our crown jewel is a fleet of eight top-of-the-line fully equipped ambulance units which could easily double as a mini-hospital, certainly the best of its kind in the market,”Provincial Administrator Noel Manuel Lopez disclosed. “Two of these vehicles have gone to as far as the province of Leyte in November 2013 as part of the Team Isabela Leyte Relief Mission in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda,” he added.

     According to Provincial Budget Officer Elsa Pastrana, thirty million pesos in local government support fundcourtesy of the DILG was used in the purchase of DRRM equipments. “The provincial government has so far invested a total of two hundred eighty-one million pesos, and the governor intends to invest even more, to intensify disaster preparedness in the province of Isabela,” she quipped.