Dagupan City News Team

The mainstreaming of Project PROMISE has started at the city level to cover the other 23 barangays in Dagupan City.
Punong barangays and representatives from the city’s non-pilot barangays attended an orientation seminar on disaster risk management and urban governance on February 6 held at the city museum.
Punong barangays and representatives from the eight pilot barangays namely Bacayao Norte, Bacayao Sur, Lasip Chico, Lasip Grande, Pogo Grande, Mangin, Salisay and Tebeng, were also present to share their experience with the non-pilot barangays.
Mayor Lim’s chief of staff, Brian Lim, said that the implementation of project PROMISE is very important to all the barangays of Dagupan, noting that some parts of the city are easily flooded even with only little rain.  
The young Lim, thus, urged the officials of the 23 barangays to give their support and cooperation to the project.
“Something really happened in the implementation of the project in the 8 pilot barangays and the mayor would like to share the same privilege to the 23 barangays,” public order and safety office (POSO) chief Robert Erfe-Mejia, deputized civil defense officer, said.       
Project PROMISE coordinator Mayfourth Luneta briefed the participants about the project, while city agriculturist Emma Molina, PROMISE-Dagupan focal person, presented a powerpoint presentation on how far the project has been implemented in the pilot barangays.
“We will also impart to you (23 barangays) the knowledge on disaster preparedness that was taught to the pilot barangays,” Molina pointed out.
On behalf of the eight pilot barangays, Pogo Grande punong barangay Roberto Abalos expressed his gratitude to project PROMISE and the city government as the project helped increase their capacities on disaster preparedness. 
“Because of the project, we have learned how to manage disaster systematically,” he enthused. 
Some members of the technical working group of PROMISE were also present during the activity.
Project PROMISE or Program for Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Mitigation in Secondary Cities in Asia (PROMISE) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). (Sunshine D. Robles)