Quezon City has joined the alliance formed by six other local government units (LGU) sharing the Marikina Watershed and its environs for the development of a unified inter-local response mechanism designed to increase LGU resilience during calamities.
A supplemental memorandum of understanding was signed by Mayor Herbert Bautista on Friday (July 15) to formalize QC’s inclusion in the Marikina Watershed Environs Integrated Resource Development Alliance, otherwise known as the Alliance of Seven (A7).
The alliance, which originally had as members the cities of Marikina, Pasig and Antipolo and the municipalities of San Mateo, Cainta and Rodriguez in Rizal, was formed last year to boost the coping capabilities of the said LGUs in times of natural calamities, such as typhoons.
Member cities and municipalities of the LGU alliance also have areas, considered danger zones, along the West Valley Fault Line.
In his solidarity message, Mayor Bautista reiterated that disaster-risk mitigation and environment management will continue to remain as critical foundations for the implementation of QC’s urban development strategies.
“We have to do what is right. Any meaningful development plan of Quezon City must highlight the thrust of saving our poor and our constituents from disaster,” the Mayor said.
He called on all member LGUs to pool their resources and expertise in order to come up with an effective disaster risk reduction program.
“Let us do it seriously,” the Mayor said.
With Mayor Bautista during the signing of the agreement were Mayors Ramon Ilagan of Cainta and Del de Guzman of Marikina. Mayor de Guzman is the lead convenor of A7.
During the occasion, member-cities of the Alliance of Seven had approved the A-7 Resilience 2011 – 2013 Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program designed to increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of the A-7 communities within the Marikina Watershed.
QC’s disaster risk reduction management council, headed by department of public order and safety chief Elmo San Diego, has been tasked by Mayor Bautista to oversee the implementation of the city’s disaster risk reduction strategies. Precy/ Rico/ Maureen Quiñones, PAISO
