San Nicolas gov't creates disaster risk reduction office

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte—Recognizing the signs of the time, the municipal government here is set to create a Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office after the Sangguniang Bayan approved the ordinance for its creation.

The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, or Republic Act 10121, enjoins local government units to adopt a disaster risk reduction and management approach. The same law also mandates the establishment of a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO).

San Nicolas is a flood prone area and the municipality has experienced both natural and man-made disasters which have caused extensive damages to both lives and properties.

Sangguniang Bayan member Atty. Reynaldo Corpuz, the ordinance’s author, said the MDRRM officer shall receive compensation under Salary Grade 18.

Atty. Corpuz added that the MDRRMO will be responsible for setting the direction, development, implementation and coordination of disaster risk management programs of San Nicolas with the help of Accredited Community Disaster Volunteers (ACDV).

Liga ng Mga Barangay president and municipal council ex-officio member Linda Badua, who is one of the co-authors of the ordinance, said the municipal government will appropriate the amount necessary for the compensation and benefits of the MDRRMO pursuant to the rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management and other concerned national agencies.

San Nicolas Mayor Melanie Grace P. Valdez later approved the ordinance saying she also sees the necessity of having a MDRRMO to look into the municipality’s disaster preparedness.

Other authors of the ordinance are SB members Ariel Villa, Efren Butay and Orlando Badua.

In a related development, the Sangguniang Bayan here also approved employment prioritization ordinance.

San Nicolas councilor Aladine Santos, one of the authors of the measure, said the ordinance affirms the state policy of promoting employment opportunities of its constituents.

Due to the influx of business establishments in this municipality, Mr. Santos said they needed to set a policy of employment prioritization.

The ordinance states that all business establishments who do business here are required to prioritize the hiring and employment of actual residents in this municipality.

As also stated in Section 2, Article IV of the Revised San Nicolas Investment and Incentive Code, whenever a business establishment hires or employs at least 65 percent of their work force from this municipality, without distinction as to the nature of work or position thereof, shall be entitled to the incentives and benefits provided therein.

Any establishment who fails to fulfill said requirement will automatically disqualified in the availment of the said investment incentive code.

Council members Mr. Butay and Atty. Corpuz, co-authors of the ordinance, said that prior to the issuance of business permits within the coverage of this ordinance, the Public Employment and Service Office (PESO) will make available the updated listings of actual residents of the municipality as possible employment applicants.