City Mayor John Geesnell Yap and Tagbilaran City First Lady Jane Yap graced the unveiling of the new Tagbilaran City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CDRRM) command center and its vehicle fleet on Jan. 19, 2022.

Finally, after years of envisioning for a center that could cater to the unique needs of the city’s disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), the Tagbilaran City DRRM now has a new base for its operations.

The building is able to accommodate the different divisions of CDRRM, as well as living quarters for the medical and search rescue and retrieval responders.

Mayor Yap said the new command center will be equipped with all the needed vehicles and equipment for search and rescue operations.

“With this new facility, emergency response services will be faster and efficient. Aside from the investment we have made in the building, we also made the necessary capacity building among our responders.” 

Moreover, through an ordinance sponsored by Coun. Dulce Amelia Glovasa, the CDRRM is now a department of the executive branch of the City Government of Tagbilaran. This is an upgrade from its former status as an office within the City Government.

The new Tagbilaran DRRM Department aims to effectively and efficiently carry out the DRRM programs and projects of the city, and in compliance with the policies set forth by the national government.

The new department is under the DRRM Council chaired by Mayor Yap himself.

Action Officer Gerard Lavadia said the office will be able to hire more staff as the department has a separate budget for the salaries of personnel.