Pupils participate in the Nationwide Simultaneous School Safety Drill at the Carlos F. Gonzales High School in Barangay Maguinao, San Rafael, Bulacan, on September 3, 2026. Led by officials from the Department of Education, local government, and public safety and disaster response agencies, the event aims to strengthen school security and emergency preparedness following incidents of school violence in different parts of the country. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Tuesday launched a 7-point resilience agenda and a strategic infrastructure plan as the agency marked its 72nd anniversary.
OCD on disaster response: 'We've learned our lessons'
In his speech during the celebration at Camp Aguinaldo, OCD Deputy Administrator Raffy Alejandro IV said the initiatives — PREPARE, or the OCD 7-Point Resilience Agenda, and the Strategic Infrastructure Development and Management Plan (SIDMP) — are intended to strengthen the country’s disaster resilience as risks evolve and the demand for disaster-related services increases.
He said the two initiatives were built on lessons learned from past disasters and developments within the agency, while seeking to address the country’s needs in the years ahead.
“At the heart of that work is one expectation: that the systems we build must make a real difference in the lives of the people we serve,” Alejandro said.
He said the country’s changing risk landscape, rapid advances in technology, the growing importance of sustainability, and increasing demand for OCD services require the agency to continue evolving.
Alejandro also emphasized the importance of OCD personnel in carrying out the agency’s mandate.
“Throughout this evolution, one thing has remained constant: our people,” he said, citing their commitment, professionalism, and dedication.
He said Filipinos have consistently demonstrated courage and determination when facing disasters, but resilience should not depend solely on communities’ ability to endure crises.
“Resilience cannot rest on endurance alone. It must be backed by systems that prepare, protect, and help communities recover,” Alejandro said.
He said this would remain the direction of the agency as it seeks to build stronger disaster resilience nationwide.
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