21st City Council of Davao

A CITY Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) official said the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System Ordinance penalizes the tampering of alert systems.

On Oct. 21, 2025, the 21st City Council of Davao passed on final reading an ordinance institutionalizing the establishment, operation, and maintenance of a comprehensive Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS).

In a Disaster Radio interview on Tuesday, CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran said the ordinance aims to strengthen information and education campaigns for residents in impact areas.

He said tampering, false alarms, and obstruction of warning signage will face a fine of not less than P5,000, an imprisonment of one to six months, or both, at the court’s discretion.

Baloran said that with the ordinance, alterations and removal of the early warning systems will be penalized since these actions put the public at risk.

“Some of the private property owners are hesitant for some personal reason that we put up signages, but these signages should be installed to inform the public,” he said.

This is true for all the signage in flood-prone areas, landslide-prone areas, and fault lines, among others.

In an earlier interview, Councilor Alberto Ungab, the committee chair on disaster risk reduction and management, said the measure is important for disaster preparedness.

Ungab said that the MHEWS comes with a Handbook that will serve as a guide in the coordination of information for the communities to be prepared for disaster events.

“Those from far-flung areas might take a day for a response to come, or they can be there. If you trained people in that particular area, at least in a small way, you can already start responding,” he said.

Ungab said the system must be in place so there will be no chaos when disaster strikes, and the authorities down to the barangay level are prepared.

“We cannot be reactive; we have to plan and execute a plan before a disaster happens,” the councilor stressed.