TAGBILARAN CITY- The National Irrigation Administration Region 7 (NIA-7) conducted a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Planning Workshop to develop the agency’s Emergency Action/Preparedness Plan for its Bohol dams.
NIA-7’s Bohol Integrated Irrigation System is composed of four (4) National Irrigation Systems namely: Capayas Irrigation System (Ubay), Malinao IS (Pilar), Talibon IS (Talibon), and Bayongan IS (San Miguel).
The drafting of the plan on August 2 to 3, 2022 at the Central Visayas Training Center, Tagbilaran City was guided by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officers together with the Irrigators’ Association (IAs) who are beneficiaries of the said dams.
NIA7 Acting Regional Manager Engr. Reyne B. Ugay said that through effective preparation we can mitigate losses and ease the impacts of disasters should they arrive.
“This planning aims to issue a unified Emergency Action Plan to be adopted and followed during emergency and disaster situations. Since the severity of natural hazards like earthquakes and super typhoons that may cause dam failure cannot be controlled, the window for reducing risk lies in the preparation of NIA, LGU, IAs, and other stakeholders.”
The two-day workshop also includes sessions where participants assessed the Potential Hazards and Risks of the dams, presented a potential flooding scenario with hazard maps, and analyzed the internal and external issues that are relevant to the safe operation of dams in the event of calamities and disaster.
RM Ugay pointed out that the development of an EAP/EPP does not mean that the dam and its appurtenances are not safe. This is to be proactive to address risks surrounding the operation of the dams.
The participants identified as point-persons in their respective sectors after having gained additional knowledge are expected to be advocates for the safety in the operation of irrigation systems through their involvement in the implementation of the Plans.
More workshops are expected to be conducted in NIA to develop a more efficient and updated Dam Safety plan.