DILG MISOR URGES LGUS TO BE MORE ‘DISASTER-READY’ VIA ENHANCED OPERATION LISTO

        With the advent of the Enhanced Operation Listo Disaster Preparedness Manual, local government units of Misamis Oriental are now expected more resilient and disaster-ready as it was rolled out on September 16.

        This is in line with the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s efforts to ensure disaster preparedness and effective response to the occurrence of any calamity in the society.

         “Operation Listo is based on data recognizing as to what our LGUs should do in case of disasters, and we created checklists so that they would easily identify appropriate actions to be taken in a particular period, especially if there is an impending typhoon,” said DILG 10 Regional Director Arnel M. Agabe.

With this, Misamis Oriental Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, Floy Francisco, emphasized the need for specific actions before, during, and after a disaster to achieve ‘effective preparedness’ in times of disasters.

         “We need to create and institutionalize out structures, systems, policies, and plans […] Build competencies through acquiring knowledge about the DRRM programs, mobilize our resources, and use our critical preparedness action,” Francisco said.

         “We need to be more resilient and be ready anytime even without disasters,” he added.

Changes in the Manual

         The manual is a complete agenda composing of the checklist and primary planning for LGUs to have a systematic and accurate course of action, with aligned and improved local plans and preparations prior to or during a catastrophe.

         Enhanced L!ISTO Focal Person, Mr. Jaleel Elhav Paler. Paler said that there was a need to update the manual due to the intensifying climate change that consequently affects the frequency and intensity of the typhoons that hit the country.

         The general change to the Disaster Preparedness Manual is the incorporation of all the following checklists into one document: (1) Early Preparations for Mayors, (2) Minimum Critical Actions for Mayors, (3) Actions for C/MLGOOs/COPs and FMS.

         The roll out was initiated by DILG Region 10 and Misamis Oriental, in partnership with the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC).

         Participants include the City/Municipal Mayors or Administrators, Municipality Chiefs of Police, Municipality Fire Marshalls, C/MDRRMOs, C/MLGOOs, and DILG Regional and Provincial staff.

         Operation Listo is an advocacy initiated by the DILG, through the Local Government Academy in building and strengthening the alertness and readiness of the LGUs in responding to disasters.