July 2024

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. underscored the need for an urgent development approach in addressing disasters and other “lingering emergencies” currently faced by the country.

“We use our approach in DRRM in working for other concerns and threats that we are facing here in the province of Iloilo and the rest of the country. Moving forward, that is the direction that DRRM is giving us. Urgent development - we develop these areas and we address those problems that usually pertain to the fundamentals.”

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Public Safety Serafin P. Barretto Jr. lauded the Iloilo Provincial Government, through the leadership of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., for its innovations and best practices in disaster response and management.

Barretto served as the keynote speaker during the 1st Provincial DRRM Summit organized by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Pototan, Iloilo.

The Iloilo Provincial Government distributed P1 million in financial aid to all 43 local government units under its disaster risk reduction and management fund during the 1st Provincial DRRM Summit on July 31, 2024, at Pototan Astrodome.

The amount will be used to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon and to support Project 1-43 (1 Province, 43 City/Municipalities) for Tanum Iloilo which is a tree-growing activity.

The 43 LGUs also received communication devices and portable generating systems to promote the renewable energy concept.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. underscored the need for an urgent development approach in addressing disasters and other “lingering emergencies” currently faced by the country.