Koronadal City South Cotabato – In support of strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management System (PDRRM) under RA 10121, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII conducted a two-day training course on Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) on December 21 to 22, 2015. The training aimed at providing insights and understanding on the responsibilities of NEDA being the Vice-Chairperson of the Sub-committee on Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery of the NDRRMC and the RDRRMC, one of the four thematic areas of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management System (PDRRMS). The sub-committee undertakes post-restoration recovery to restore and improve facilities, livelihood and living condition based on the “build back better” principle in close coordination with other concerned national line agencies. It also undertakes rehabilitation to ensure the ability of affected communities and areas to restore their normal level of functioning.

The two-day training covered the ten-module PDNA workbook developed by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) which utilized different methodologies, frameworks and processes involved in the preparation of Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) and the Human Recovery Needs Assessment (HRNA). The NRO XII staff who had undergone training sessions on PDNA served as resource persons.

After the classroom sessions, actual application of the learning was done through the Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) conducted in two barangays of Koronadal City, namely, Barangay San Isidro and Barangay Zone III that were recently affected by land slide and flooding, respectively. The FGDs allowed the NRO XII staff to assess firsthand the conditions of the affected areas and presented the agency with the opportunity to provide assistance through the donation of DRR materials to augment certain deficiencies in the barangays’ disaster response mechanisms. NRO XII donated a first-aid kit and spine board for emergency situations. (Joseph Didius L. Clave, NEDA XII-PFPD)