THE world’s first national-emergency operations center (Neoc) was launched on Wednesday at the Clark Freeport by the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation Inc. (PDRF).
On hand during the launching were Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Second District of Pampanga, PLDT Inc. CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, Ayala Corp. Chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Clark Development Corp. President Noel F. Manankil, PDRF Resilience Officer Guillermo M. Luz and PDRF President Rene S. Meily.
Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle is named as PDRF honorary chairman, while Pangilinan and Ayala are designated cochairmen.
Manankil lauded the launching of the national Neoc that he said is a “self-sufficient operations hub geared toward training for disaster preparedness and the coordination of relief and response during major disasters.”
According to the PDRF, Clark was chosen for the facility, as 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.
Pangilinan said 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.
“The PDRF’s formation is premised on the conviction that disaster management is not solely up to the government,” Pangilinan said. “The despair of one must touch us all and everyone must help.”
The 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, and relief and recovery.
The Neoc is seen to 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.