The Davao City Agriculturist Office (CAgrO) conducted a three-day Capacity Enhancement Training for Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), focusing on the Damage Assessment Reporting System (DARS) and Damage and Loss Assessment (DALA).
The June 3-5 training was intended to strengthen the AEWs’ ability to collect and report accurate disaster-related agricultural losses.
Estelita Pilar Valdez, Officer-In-Charge of CAgrO’s Farm Division, said the training seeks to equip AEWs with the necessary skills to assess production losses, infrastructure damage, and supply chain disruptions following natural calamities.
She also emphasized the importance of reliable data in guiding effective interventions for recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
“Ang expectation gyod namo after the training kay able na ang among participants na pagdating nila sa field in times na may any kind of calamity, makakuha sila ng data na accurate and maka submit sila sa office [dayon] para ma-submit din namin sa agencies na nangangailangan (We expect that the participants will be able to gather precise data when they get to the field during any disaster and turn it in to the office so that we can also give it to agencies who require it),” she said.
Funded by the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF), the training was attended by 43 participants from all districts. The participants were oriented on the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Information System (DRRMIS), learning about its new features, protocols, and integration into the disaster management workflow.
Valdez said the training also highlighted unified concepts, valuation methods, and validation procedures to ensure consistency in damage assessment reports in the districts.
She said that with the strengthened capabilities of AEWS, CAgrO hopes to reinforce the resilience and responsiveness of the city’s agricultural sector in disaster-affected areas. CIO
