The Provincial Government of Occidental Mindoro through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has been dedicated to mitigating the impacts of both natural and man-made disasters within the community. It has been the leading edge towards safeguarding the province through preparedness initiatives and response measures and strategies. In the year 2023, PDDRMO accomplished four (4) core projects such as Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Response and Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery.
Under the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation project, the PDRRMO allocated a budget of Php 13,139,300.00 with an expenditure of Php 13,041,630.00, which focused on the implementation of strategies to reduce the vulnerabilities and exposure of communities against hazards and unforeseen disasters. A total of 658 beneficiaries have been identified from completed and ongoing activities initiated under the said project. The completed initiatives include the rechanneling of eleven rivers, improvement of fifteen roads, provision of potable water supply, installation of solar streetlights, conservation
of aquatic resources, advocacy for the No Build Zone law, and distribution of different Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials in various areas in the province. Ongoing efforts involve the establishment of early warning devices in collaboration with science agencies, the construction of slope protection structures in Sablayan and San Jose, and the installation of gabions in specific areas, aiming to further strengthen disaster prevention and mitigation measures.
In terms of the Disaster Preparedness project, the PDRRMO allotted an approved budget of Php 29,047,374.88, with the actual utilization amounting to Php 27,622,228.19. The project aimed to establish an emergency management system, increase awareness of hazards, and ensure the availability of facilities and resources for emergency response. Completed activities include meetings, summits, and capacity-building initiatives, such as health emergency response operations training, early warning system installation, repair and maintenance of rescue vehicles and the distribution of insurance and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to volunteers. In connection to this, the PDRRMO has effectively organized response clusters, conducted nationwide simultaneous earthquake drills in Looc and Payompon, Mamburao, provided support to DRRMCs, and addressed various disaster preparation needs, benefiting a total of 5,469 individuals. Meanwhile, in progress projects within the program involve the establishment of a local emergency hotline in the province.
Also, the PDRRMO implemented the Disaster Response Project with an approved budget of Php 6,241,000.00, utilizing Php 5,732,833.50 that benefitted 8,132 people in the province. The project’s objectives include compliance with national calamity protocols, provision of psycho- social support to vulnerable populations, activation of a comprehensive Incident Command System (ICS), and the delivery of basic needs to affected communities to mitigate casualties. Key accomplishments under this project encompass the swift activation of the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) Team during Typhoon Egay, distribution of hygiene kits, food packs, and sacks of rice to affected communities, the activation of the Camp