The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has planned to establish a strategic warehouse for relief goods and a satellite office in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental to enhance disaster management and improve response times for calamity victims in the region.
On January 6, 2025, three OCD regional directors—Raul Fernandez (Region 6), Joel Erestain (Region 7), and Donato Sermeno III (Negros Island Region)— convened with Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo and Councilor Rey Lyndon Lawas to discuss the proposal.
The local officials requested land allocation for the construction of the OCD facilities, which will include a relief goods warehouse, a disaster management training center, and an office for the satellite branch.
The proposed site, located within the Eco-Park and MRF compound in Barangay Candau-ay, Dumaguete, is said to be strategically positioned next to the existing Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) warehouse.
Officials said that the facilities aim to streamline disaster relief operations by ensuring the timely distribution of food, water, and non-food items to affected communities. While, the training center will serve as a hub to equip local disaster management officers and volunteers with essential skills for effective disaster response.
Collaborations
During the meeting, the OCD officials stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships with the local government to improve disaster prevention, preparedness, and recovery efforts.
They emphasized that collaboration will increase the region’s resilience to natural disasters, especially given the recent typhoons and climate change impacts.
Remollo expressed strong support for the proposal, noting the critical role these facilities would play in speeding up disaster response and ensuring the efficient delivery of aid.
He also boasted that the city’s ongoing climate change mitigation efforts, particularly the shoreline protection project in Barangay Poblacion 1-Tinago, which the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Full Council of Central Visayas recently recognized.
He emphasized that the project will protect properties and communities along Rizal Boulevard and near the mouth of the Banica River from storm surges and flooding during typhoons, which have caused significant damage in the past.
Dumaguete has faced severe devastation from powerful storms, including Typhoon Sendong (2011), Typhoon Pablo (2012), Typhoon Auring (2013), and Typhoon Odette (2021).
These natural disasters have caused extensive damage to infrastructure and displaced thousands of residents, underscoring the need for disaster preparedness and mitigation projects.
If approved, the OCD warehouse and satellite office will significantly boost region’s disaster response capacity, enabling faster and more effective responses in times of crisis.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.