Torba Province will now have a greater role in leading disaster response.

Its Provincial Disaster and Climate Change Committee (PDCCC) was formally established in Torba today, giving the province greater responsibility for making decisions, endorsing response plans and accessing disaster funding.

The committee was formally established through an agreement between the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the Torba PDCCC.

Province to lead disaster response

NDMO Senior Planning and Intelligence Officer Fidel Zebeta says the committee allows Torba to make its own decisions and endorse its provincial response plans and budgets.

“The establishment of the PDCCC allows the province to make its own decisions and endorsements for its provincial response plan. It can endorse the budget for its response and take the lead in responding.”

Faster access to disaster funding

Under the system, the provincial government can develop, table and endorse its response plan and cluster activities based on the disaster situation.

Funding will be facilitated through the NDMO mechanism and submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval, allowing the province to access funding at the provincial level once approved.

The NDMO will continue supporting implementation and fast-tracking the process.

Torba welcomes stronger provincial role

Secretary General of the Torba Provincial Government Council Albert Ruddley welcomed the strengthened role of the PDCCC.

“We want to say a big thank you to the Director and the department for the great work you are doing, especially as we see the work of the PDCCC being upgraded and strengthened so it can help us during times of disaster.”

The Provincial Disaster and Climate Change Committee is established under the Disaster Risk Management Act, which has provided for the committees since 2019.

The NDMO has been working to establish PDCCCs in all provinces, with Torba now having its committee formally established.