SANTIAGO CITY – following a string of tropical cyclones that traversed the region last year and exacerbated by the worsening effects of climate change, DILG R2 sought to strengthen its Operation L!STO on February 13-14, 2025, particularly on the LGU early preparedness and critical preparedness measures.

 Participated by the DILG regional and provincial DRR-CCA primary and alternate focal persons, the 2-day activity, dubbed as Leveraging Initiatives and Strategies on the Technical Operations (LISTO) of DRR-CCA in Region 2, intends to assess the level of capacity and performance of the Operation L!STO and Emergency Operations Center of the regional and provincial offices, and to strengthen areas of attention based from the result of the assessment.

 During her welcome message, RD Agnes A. De Leon highlights the importance of improving the performances of R2 L!STO team, particularly before a disaster situation and during critical period post-disaster. She also challenged everyone to be proactive and swift especially in the reportorial aspect of the EOC, and to utilize the DILG Field Officers as the primary source of data and information  

Resource persons the DILG Center Office Disaster Information Coordinating Center (CODIX) as well as from regional line agencies such as the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Science and Technology, PAGASA Weather Bureau, and the National Irrigation Administration  – Magat River Integrated  Irrigation System  (NIA-MARIIS) were invited to enlighten the participants on the climate outlook, PDRA-RDANA and other Disaster Protocols and Alert Systems, Dam Flood Warning Operations and Protocols, and the enhanced Disaster Online Reporting and Monitoring System (DORMS), among others.

The sessions and discussions were followed by a simulation exercise (SIMEX) where the participants were given the opportunity to navigate and explore the features of the enhanced DORMS. They were also given a mock scenario as basis for data gathering that is also required to be inputted in the system. The SIMEX also revealed certain issues in the system that need adjustments or fine tuning.

Meanwhile, Assistant Regional Director, Elpidio A. Durwin, who graced the activity on the second day, thanked the resource persons from the DILG-CODIX for travelling up north to orient the DRR focal persons of region 2 regarding the enhanced DORMS. He also expressed the ever growing importance of vigilance in times of calamities and mandate of the department to assist the LGUs during this period.

 Since its inception and launching in 2014, DILG R2 remains committed in reinforcing and strengthening the disaster preparedness of LGUs, taking advantage of the so-called peace-time or the period when there are no active threats from natural hazards, thus allowing LGUs to focus on preparedness and mitigations strategies