MACABALAN, Cagayan de Oro City โ To strengthen disaster assessment and recovery planning in the region, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region 10 (BFAR-10) conducted a Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) orientation for local government units (LGUs) across the region from August 11 to 21, 2026.
The activity convened representatives from local government units (LGUs) in the covered provinces of Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental.
The participants completed an orientation on completing the Disaster and Loss Assessment (DALA) Forms for fisheries and aquaculture-related disasters, as well as the use of the system for data entry, validation, and reporting.
According to Joycie Yaรฑez, BFAR-10 Planning staff, Northern Mindanao is vulnerable to natural and climate-related hazards that significantly affect the fisheries and aquaculture sector, resulting in damage to assets, livelihoods, fish production; hence, the food security in general
โTo address these impacts, BFAR-10 has institutionalized DRRM tools such as the DALA System, Forms, and the Post Disaster and Needs Assessment (PDNA) process to ensure timely and accurate damage assessment and recovery planning,โ Yaรฑez said.
She noted that inconsistencies in the understanding and use of these tools among LGUs caused reporting gaps and delays, underscoring the need for a unified orientation and harmonized reporting process.
During the forum, BFAR-10 System Developer Roy Paraiso demonstrated the DALA system and highlighted its accessibility and user-friendly features.
Paraiso said the system facilitates the preparation and uploading of fisheries-related damage reports and allows users to generate reports in Excel format for documentation and submission.
He added mobile accessibility allows LGU personnel to submit reports straight from the field.
Concurrently, Jane Tadena demonstrated how to input the data into the system via the standardized DALA Form, focusing on the aquaculture, capture fisheries, and post-harvest sectors.
The activity also included a review of the PDNA process, particularly the roles of concerned agencies, timelines, and coordination mechanisms for fisheries-related assessments.
Tadena further added that the forum aims to improve DRRM data collection and reporting among BFAR, LGUs, and partner agencies and strengthen coordination in disaster response and recovery efforts.
The activity is part of BFAR-10’s efforts to provide LGUs with uniform tools and methods for tracking fisheries-related losses and supporting evidence-based rehabilitation and recovery interventions. (#RDME)
