Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo led 14 mayors and officials from the province at a three-day regional disaster risk reduction summit in Cebu City recently.

The summit aims to strengthen contingency plans and undertake a pro-active stance on climate change issues and concerns.

Degamo and Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto signed a commitment with provincial and local government chief executives to accept challenges on disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation in Central Visayas.

Mayors who attended the summit that ended yesterday were from Sta. Catalina, Siaton, Dauin, Bacong, Valencia, Dumaguete City, San Jose, Amlan, Tanjay, Manjuyod, Bindoy, Ayungon, Jimalalud and Vallehermoso.

Angelo Tiongson of the PDRRMC and Ingo Mercado of the Provincial Planning Office participated in the meeting organized by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, through the Office of the Civil Defense and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Discussed were the roles of chief executives in disaster risk reduction, incident command system and utilization of disaster preparedness funds. Resource persons came from the DILG, OCD, departments of Health and Budget and Management, and the National Economic and Development Authority.

The need for local chief executives to adopt measures to mitigate the effects of climate change that are now becoming more evident in the increasing number of disaster risks, was also stressed.*JFP