CLARK FREEPORT — Clark Development Corporation (CDC) welcomed on Wednesday the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), one of the leading business networks in disaster management, as they launched the world’s first national emergency operations center (EOC) in this Freeport.
CDC President Noel F. Manankil lauded the said event as the PDRF with its co-chairman and PLDT-SMART CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan and PDRF co-chairman and Ayala Corporation Chairman-CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala inaugurate the EOC which is a self-sufficient operations hub geared towards training for disaster preparedness and the coordination of relief and response during major disasters.
According to PDRF Communications Officer Colleen Abesamis, Clark is the chosen location for the facility for it is one of the designated recovery sites identified by the government in the national contingency plan and an ideal place due to its proximity to the Clark International Airport and Port of Subic Bay.
Meanwhile, Pangilinan highlighted that disaster management in the country should be a collaborative effort between the government and the private sector. He also cited the PDRF’s effort for creating platforms in establishing a disaster-resilient Philippines.
“PDRF’s formation is premised on the conviction that disaster management is not solely up to the government. The despair of one must touch us all and everyone must help,” Pangilinan said.
PDRF was established in 2009 as a public private sector partnership as a response to the devastation caused by typhoon ‘Ondoy.’ It serves as a critical link among government agencies, civil society groups, international and local government units for disaster preparedness, relief and recovery.
Accordingly, the EOC will complement government efforts and highlight private sector initiatives in all aspects of response and early recovery as it will provide alerts and updates to the PDRF network during emergency situations. It also features a command center which harnesses data from local and international sources to monitor earthquakes, tropical cyclones, volcanic eruptions and pandemics. It also maps data on public infrastructure to help protect them from hazards.
Notable guests who witnessed the inauguration were former President and 2nd District representative of Pampanga Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. President-CEO Erramon Aboitiz, and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad.