OCD launches 7-point agenda, infra plan for disaster resilience

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is set to launch a seven-point resilience agenda and an infrastructure development plan aimed at strengthening the country’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities as it marks its 72nd anniversary.

OCD Deputy Administrator Rafaelito Alejandro IV said the agency’s 7-Point Resilience Agenda, also referred to as Prepapre, and its Strategic Infrastructure Development and Management Plan (SIDMP) would help address evolving disaster risks and growing demands for its services.

Alejandro said the agency must continue adapting to advances in technology, sustainability requirements and changes in disaster risk governance.

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“Filipinos have always shown courage and determination in the face of disasters, but resilience cannot rest on endurance alone. It must be backed by systems that prepare, protect, and help communities recover,” he said during his anniversary remarks in a celebration at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

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Alejandro said the two initiatives would build on lessons from past disasters and the agency’s institutional development while addressing the country’s future needs.

He emphasized that improvements in disaster preparedness must translate into tangible benefits for communities.

READ: OCD launches youth disaster preparedness brigade

“At the heart of that work is one expectation: that the systems we build must make a real difference in the lives of the people we serve,” he said.

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Alejandro also underscored the role of OCD personnel in carrying out the agency’s programs, saying institutional reforms would depend on their commitment and professionalism.

“The systems we build are only as strong as the people who put them into action,” he said.

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The OCD, which serves as the implementing arm and secretariat of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, coordinates disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts among government agencies and local authorities.

The agency has yet to detail the specific measures under Prepare and the infrastructure projects covered by the SIDMP in its remarks. /cb