THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched “Charlie,” a centralized alert system that will use local response strategies for better disaster-risk reduction and management.
Using best practices, Interior Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II said the National Police, the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Science and Technology adopted an alert system that uses a flowchart to guide local officials in making “minimum critical preparations” that are translated to step-by-step actions during and after a disaster strikes.
“You can treat this as a checklist of what has to be there at the very least. It’s hard to work while confused. The chance of confusion in coordinating disaster response is very high,” he said.
Using the signaling system of the Bureau of Fire Protection, an area is declared under Charlie status if it is exposed to the highest risk brought about a typhoon or an earthquake.
Roxas also explained that before the actual implementation of the alert system, comprehensive predisaster-risk assessments are to be conducted in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. That way, response strategies can be based on the actual needs of specific areas.
“We also want to harmonize the new system with our local DRRM plans,” he said.
The DILG will provide all local government units with the necessary materials such as landslide and flood susceptibility maps, as well as the flowchart which comes with a manual of operations.
Roxas has set the target in December for the finalization and release of these materials.
He explained that the new system will not compete with the risk reduction and management program of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, but will even reinforce it.
Roxas is the vice chairman of the council.