LICUAN-BAAY, Abra (PIA) --The local government unit (LGU) here has boosted its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRMM) capabilities with the support of partners and stakeholders.
 
The Municipal DRRM Council recently initiated a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing with other LGUs, non-government organizations (NGOs), partners and stakeholders towards a more disaster-resilient zone.
 
Led by Municipal DRRM Council Chairperson and Mayor Alejo Domingo, their partners from the municipalities of Daguioman, Sallapadan, Lagangilang, Lacub, and Malibcong,  Abra and Balbalan in  Kalinga, together with Abra Diocesan Teachers and. Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative,  St. Therese Pharmacy, St. Michael Funeral Homes, Department of Education- Licuan-Baay District, faith- based organizations, construction firms, emergency response and telecommunications organizations and other cooperatives took part in the MOA signing.
 
This aims to build a better partnership and cooperation in times of calamities by supporting each other through DRRM response, technical assistance, logistics and capacity building initiatives. It also allows partners to pool their resources to render support and assistance not only in their areas but also to the provincial DRRMC.
 
Municipal DRRM Officer Erosbon Sabedo said that disaster response and mitigation was the top priority of the LGU Licuan-Baay due to its mountainous terrain and geographic characteristics.
 
“We included all our neighboring municipalities to strengthen our disaster mitigation cooperation and to establish a more resilient zone during times of calamities,” Sabedo said in an interview.
 
Sabedo said that this is the very first LGU-led MOA signing on DRRM in the province of Abra.
 
“Ito po ang first MOA signing in Abra which involves other municipalities most especially the municipality of Balbalan, Kalinga which  became our partner in boarder control operations during the surge of COVID19 cases way back 2020,” he added. (JDP/CAGT-PIA CAR, Abra)