On behalf of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) Director Maria Isabel Lanada served as one of the keynote speakers at the 1st National Convention of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) Officers and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Practitioners held on April 24 in Pasay City, Metro Manila.

In her keynote address, Director Lanada underscored the critical importance of harmonizing disaster reporting at the city and municipal levels and presented the institutionalization of the Family Assistance Card for Emergencies and Disasters (FACED) as a key innovation in local relief efforts. FACED, formerly known as the Disaster Assistance Family Access Card (DAFAC), is an enhanced tool utilized by the DSWD to gather vital demographic and socioeconomic data from disaster-affected families, enabling more efficient, needs-based response and planning.

Director Lanada further emphasized that the Department’s commitment to forward-looking strategy integrates preparedness with early action mechanisms to reduce the impact of hazards before they escalate into disasters. She highlighted the need for a holistic and preventive framework, focusing on the disaster and  resilience formula, which promotes capacity-building and vulnerability reduction at the community level.

The convention, themed “Building Resilience: Success through Collaboration,” was organized by MDM Resiliency Consultancy Services in partnership with the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers League of Northern Samar (DRAGONS), Inc. The event served as a platform for sharing best practices, exploring innovative strategies and technologies, and fostering collaboration among DRRM practitioners across the country.

In closing, Director Lanada urged all LDRRM Officers and DRR practitioners to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and local capacities to collectively build a stronger, safer, and more resilient Philippines.