OCD, World Bank beef up DRRM partnership

PARTNERSHIP. Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator, Undersecretary Harold Cabreros (right) leads the meeting between senior OCD officials and representatives of the World Bank on Wednesday (Sept. 3, 2025). The meeting focused on promoting DRRM awareness to the public while exploring ways for OCD to strengthen its ability to disseminate information during time-sensitive events such as tsunamis. (OCD photo)

MANILA – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the World Bank further strengthened their partnership in advancing Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) following a high-level meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting, held in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, was led by OCD administrator Undersecretary Harold Cabreros and other senior agency officials, the OCD said in a statement.

The agency said the meeting focused on promoting DRRM awareness to the public while exploring ways for OCD to strengthen its ability to disseminate information during time-sensitive events such as tsunamis.

"We deeply value the World Bank's more than a decade of partnership with the Philippine Government in disaster risk reduction management through development financing, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing," Cabreros said.

He added that the World Bank's support has been vital in enabling OCD to pursue reforms, strengthen Philippine institutions, and advance the resilience of the country's communities.

The World Bank was represented in the meeting by its senior officials Yoonhee Kim, Sudeshna Ghosh Banerjee, Fides Borja, Robert Reid, and Lizardo Narvaez Marulanda.

Officials of the international lender shared their perspectives during the meeting and stressed the importance of strong links between national and local levels.

They also emphasized the need for early warning systems to reach everyone, echoing Cabreros' earlier remarks, while also looking at long-term projects.

"They expressed interest in extending partnerships to other private sectors, including electricity distribution companies," the OCD said of the World Bank officials.

It added that Reid reaffirmed the World Bank's determination to support OCD in building sustainable and resilient systems for the country. (PNA)

}