Photo from MILG
COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Government’s Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (Bangsamoro-READi) strengthens its disaster response through the construction of the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) in the province of Sulu.
The EOC provides and coordinates warnings, disaster evacuation, asset inventory, and emergency services integration.
“The establishment of an EOC in Sulu will allow the BARMM government to quickly deploy emergency responders and relief assistance in the event of a disaster,” MILG Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo said during the groundbreaking ceremony on March 18, in Patikul, who is also READI head.
According to the standard operating procedure as outlined in the disaster risk management flow, local government units would take the lead in their respective areas. With this, the operation center would support the provincial DRRM in the province.
The Provincial Emergency Operations Center will serve as the primary hub for coordination in the town during an emergency, carrying out and coordinating emergency management tasks.
The new structure will act as a crucial nerve center for timely situation reports and early warning dissemination to lessen hazards’ vulnerabilities and risks, manage their effects, and facilitate resource mobilization during emergencies and disasters.
Sinarimbo said that once the infrastructure project is completed, the province will be able to improve the government’s ability to plan for and respond to potential compound emergencies, whether man-made or natural disasters.
Meanwhile, Provincial Governor Abdusakur M Tan donated 500 square meters of private land for the EOC’s construction.
The Bangsamoro Appropriations Act (BAA) 2023 has provided a budget of Php20 million for the construction of the EOC. The new facility’s construction is expected to be completed this year. Other EOCs that have been approved and have budgets for this year include the Special Geographic Area (SGA) and Lanao del Sur. (Majid Nur/BIO with reports from MILG)
