BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Metropolitan BLISTT-Baguio City and the Benguet towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay-Development Authority (MBLISTTDA) supports the call of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) for cross-border cooperation toward resilience.
MBLISTTDA Administrator Assistant Secretary Maria Monica Costales affirmed their support during the Cordillera RDRRMC Resilience Caravan in Baguio City on April 8.
“Today is more than just a gathering; it is a physical demonstration of our One Metropolitan BLISTT, One Cordillera spirit, using the whole-of-society approach. As we move through our communities today, we carry a vital message, public safety is a frontier without borders,” Costales said.
“The hazards we face, from typhoons to seismic risks, do not stop at the city limits. Therefore, our DRRM efforts cannot stop there either. Our resilience depends on the strength of the links between us,” she added.
As national government agencies and local government units strengthen partnerships and cooperation through the Resilience Caravan, Costales also called on every citizen for their support in ensuring safe and resilient communities in the region.
“Public safety is not a project; it is a lifestyle. This resilience caravan serves to remind our constituents that while the government, both local and national, builds the infrastructure of safety, every citizen is a partner in this mission.”
“Resilience is a journey we take together. By breaking down the silos between our local governments, we build a fortress of safety for the entire region,” Costales said.
The MBLISTTDA was created through Republic Act 11982, enacted into law on July 30, 2022, and is now in full operation for almost a year with the provisions of plantilla positions for its office personnel.
Office of Civil Defense-CAR Regional Director and RDRRMC Chairperson Albert Mogol acknowledged the MBLISTTDA as a new and active partner in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
The Regional Resilience Caravan being spearheaded by OCD-CAR serves as an essential platform for the RDRRMC to directly engage with stakeholders, provide program updates, address operational concerns, and collectively resolve issues related to DRR implementation at the provincial, city and municipal levels.
The Baguio City event was the fourth leg of the Regional Caravan, after Apayao, Ifugao and Benguet. The OCD hopes to bring the Resilience Caravan to all the Cordillera provinces before the rainy season starts.
“Together, the RDRRMC with all the local DRRM Councils, we aim to continue building a safer, more resilient Cordillera where preparedness is a shared responsibility and resilience is a way of life,” Mogol stressed. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
