OCD-Davao to new officials: Keep disaster teams

THE Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao) has advised newly elected officials not to replace their local disaster response teams, especially in light of ongoing weather disturbances caused by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

This was the appeal of OCD-Davao Regional Director Ednar Dayanghirang during the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps briefing on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

“Kutob sa makaya dili nato unta kambyuhan bitaw ang mga disaster office (As much as possible, let’s avoid changing disaster offices),”  Dayanghirang said, referring to the Local Government Unit (LGU) disaster response teams.

He shared that several disaster personnel from across the region had expressed concern about potentially being replaced following the recent elections. 

While he acknowledged that appointing staff is within the prerogative of newly elected officials, he strongly encouraged them to retain current staff, especially those already trained by OCD-Davao.

He warned that replacing them with untrained personnel could disrupt operations, underscoring the importance of continuity in disaster response.

Dayanghirang added that OCD-Davao continues to train responders from LGUs in coordination with key agencies, including the Philippine Coast Guard, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

He also highlighted the Gawad Kalasag Awards as a tool to evaluate LGU preparedness and resilience. However, in this year’s initial assessment, two LGUs were flagged for failing to assign personnel to three permanent disaster management positions.

While OCD cannot compel LGUs to meet these requirements, Dayanghirang clarified that failure to comply will render them ineligible for the Gawad Kalasag recognition. RGP