Private and nongovernment organizations in Negros Oriental are holding the 9th NGO Week in the province, with focus on mitigating climate change and on disaster risk reduction management.

The Negornet, an umbrella organization of NGOs and public organizations headed by Msgr. Merlin Logronio, said the group is ready to assist the provincial government in environmental programs and disaster risk reduction.

The group held a workshop recently to identify areas where civil society organizations can support disaster management efforts of the province.

Logronio said they also identified gaps like lack of CSO representation in the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, limited education and information campaign, untapped CSO resources, and the lack of contingency plan on disaster management in several barangays of the province.

Greg Fernandez, of the Young Men's Christian Association, and executive director of NegOrnet, said there are a lot of resources coming from CSOs but they do not know what procedures to follow due to the absence of mechanisms.

The CSOs can also provide volunteers during relief operations and in evacuation centers, as well as resource persons on disaster risk reduction and management training and workshops, he added.*JG

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