In the midst of various disasters striking different parts of the country, the National Disaster Center (NDC) is awaiting detailed reports from the Provincial Disaster Offices to initiate coordinated disaster management efforts effectively.
Mr. Lusete Laso Mana, the Director for National Disaster Center, revealed that they are currently coordinating with provincial authorities to gather essential information before taking action.
Mana emphasized the importance of receiving detailed reports from the affected regions before providing assistance.
He stated, “We are coordinating with the provincial disaster office to provide the disaster management. They provide us with a detailed report before we provide any assistance.”
Highlighting the protocol in disaster response, Mana explained that the first responders to any emergency are the provincial disaster offices.
If the disaster exceeds their coping capacity, they report to us, the National Disaster Centre, and then we assist.”
Regarding the situation in Simbu, Mana mentioned the challenges they face are due to limited manpower.
“We already deployed a team in Gulf. We don’t have enough manpower so we have that challenge.”
However, he assured that assistance will be provided once the reports are received.
Furthermore, Mana stressed the importance of disaster mitigation and awareness efforts.
He highlighted their collaboration with the Department of Geohazard Management for landslide awareness and mitigation strategies.
“We want to continue our effort with the Department of Geohazard and Management on more awareness and also introduce mitigation strategies to disaster-prone areas,” he stated.
Mana also mentioned that the NDC will be having a disaster committee meeting in regards to the disasters happening around Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Mana also highlighted the commitments made by the prime minister, stating, “The Prime Minister has already made some commitments to help them as well, so we are meeting and coordinating with the Chief Secretary’s office to send assistance. He assured that once the reports are received, assistance will be provided promptly to the affected areas.”
As the country approaches the wet season, Mana urged the public to remain vigilant and report any incidents promptly to the relevant authorities.
“People need to be very mindful, look for the signs. We just need to be vigilant all the time,” he emphasized.
Mana emphasized the necessity for authentic reports to facilitate effective disaster response.
He encouraged all citizens to report any disasters promptly to the responsible authorities, underscoring the importance of collective effort in managing and mitigating disasters effectively.