Iriga City formally opened this year’s National Disaster Resilience Month celebration today at the Iriga City Plaza, spearheaded by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) under Ms. Jasmin B. Botor. City officials led by Mayor Rex C. Oliva and Vice Mayor Edsel S. Dimaiwat joined members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, department heads, members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, national agencies, barangay leaders, civil society organizations and business establishments.
Councilor Dandreb N. Abonite, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety, delivered the welcome message, emphasizing that public safety is a shared responsibility among government, institutions, and citizens alike. This was followed by messages of support, starting with Councilor Melnan R. Murallo-Asanza, Chair of the Committee on Fire Safety and Disaster Risk Reduction Management, who reminded the audience, “It is better to be prepared and not need it, than to need it and not be prepared.” Vice Mayor Edsel likewise expressed his support for the celebration and the continuing efforts of the city’s disaster risk reduction programs.
Ms. Botor then gave an overview of the National Disaster Resilience Month, explaining its significance and the reasons behind its yearly observance. She highlighted the 2026 theme’s call for Irigueños to remain “Naghahanda” and “Kumikilos,” toward the goal of a “Panatag na Bagong Pilipinas.” She said this means taking an active role in building a culture of preparedness, whether in government, the private sector, or the community, rather than waiting for disaster to strike.
In his message as CDRRMC chair, Mayor Rex said the city continues to confront pressing issues, challenges, and concerns tied to the four thematic areas of disaster risk reduction and management. He noted that the city continues to strengthen the response capabilities of the CDRRMO by equipping it with boom trucks, mobile kitchens, heavy equipment, drones, and water assets. These efforts, among others, contributed to Iriga City’s recognition as beyond compliant under the Gawad KALASAG (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan), the national award given to local government units for excellence in disaster risk reduction. He added that the city’s programs now extend to empowering vulnerable groups, including women and senior citizens, with persons with disabilities set to be included moving forward, guided by the 5Ps: predict, plan, preparation, practice, and protect.
For Mayor Oliva, the celebration was ultimately an activity for the city and for the Irigueño family as a whole. He closed his message by reintroducing ARRIBA, which stands for Alert, Ready, Resilient Irigueño sa Bagong Administration, as the guiding call for the city’s disaster resilience efforts under the current administration. With ARRIBA as its rallying call, the city underscored that disaster preparedness is not just a government program, but a shared commitment among all Irigueños.
Source: Lungsod Ng Iriga