Oro dads approve CDRRMC drought early warning system

IN its regular session Monday, the 20th City Council enacted an ordinance formally adopting the Cagayan de Oro City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDO CDRRMC) Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) for agriculture and water security.

This move comes in response to Mayor Rolando A. Uy’s concern about changes in the city’s water balance and the risk of drought which may affect agriculture and water security. DEWS aims to institutionalize the system and integrate it into the city’s local disaster risk reduction and management response, Mayor Uy further manifested.

DEWS is a network of regional and national partners that share information and coordinate actions to help communities in the region cope with drought. Developing and implementing regional DEWS allows for responsiveness to geographic and hydrologic circumstances, as well as value-added information needs specific to stakeholders in the respective areas.

It is not simply the dissemination of a forecast but also an integrated information system that comprises multiple information sets, such as forecasting, monitoring, research, capacity-building, and public outreach.

It also encourages innovation by integrating new, locally relevant drought information, and supports the introduction of new technologies that detect and communicate risks and warnings, The Gavel learned.

The legislation was certified urgent by the City Mayor and supported by all members of the City Council.