TAGAYTAY CITY- The Provincial Legal Office (PLO) led by Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Robertson R. Aquino, held its year-end assessment on December 5–7, 2025 in Tagaytay City, with a focus on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and its legal implications.
The activity took place a month after the province was struck by Typhoon Uwan, underscoring the timeliness of DRRM as the central theme of the assessment. The sessions aimed to deepen the staff’s understanding of disaster-related laws and policies, as the office frequently handles requests for legal opinions on disaster risk and management.
Invited as guest speaker was Jeffrey Santos, an actor, safety advocate, licensed American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) Level 7 trainer, and advanced Emergency Medical Responder. Santos centered his discussion on correcting common misconceptions about hazards, disasters, and risk management, emphasizing the role of proper guidance in changing perspectives, saying that “mentors change mindsets.”
The sit-down session was supplemented by the trailer of the Filipino film “Fault Line”, in which Santos appeared, along with additional footage illustrating the phases and cycles of disaster management. The materials highlighted the importance of mitigation and preparedness in a country like the Philippines, which lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire and is highly prone to typhoons and earthquakes.
Santos also discussed the legal framework governing disaster management, noting that Republic Act No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, repealed Presidential Decree No. 1566 of 1978. He explained that the new law replaces a largely reactive, disaster-response orientation with a more proactive approach focused on risk reduction and resilience building.
Atty. Robertson R. Aquino underscored the office’s role in supporting community resilience, saying, “This year’s focus on disaster risk reduction is both timely and necessary. As legal counsels, our responsibility goes beyond issuing opinions — we must ensure legal frameworks and practices prevent harm, promote preparedness, and protect our communities. I also want to express our deep gratitude to Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito for his unwavering support of the PLO’s new initiatives; his backing will help us implement reforms that enable the office to provide more effective and timely legal services not only to the provincial government but to Nueva Vizcaya as a whole.”
In closing, Santos left the participants with a pointed reminder on the importance of preparedness: “Gusto namin ikaw ang magkwento, hindi ikaw ang maging kwento.” /AyelTiam
[This article was initially created on Facebook – Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya. For PGNV updates, visit: https://www.facebook.com/vizcayareporter]
