Naga’s CeSaR to serve nearby towns

By Jason B. Neola

NAGA Mayor Nelson Legacion expressed his desire to extend the services of the Center for Safety and Resilience (CeSaR) to neighboring municipalities in Camarines Sur, saying that emergency situations transcend political boundaries.

He emphasized the importance of resilience planning and crisis management in addressing the growing need for disaster response and public safety across the province. “We should not focus on the political inclinations of leaders, but on the people’s demand for survival and overcoming the challenges posed by emergencies,” Legacion said.

The Center for Safety and Resilience offers a range of services, from disaster response and crisis management to climate action, using state-of-the-art technology for interactive monitoring and emergency operations.

Legacion has advocated for this technologically advanced, interactive monitoring and emergency operation center that can respond to various emergencies, benefiting not only Naga City but surrounding municipalities as well.

Currently under construction at the Balatas Development Complex, the CeSaR building will house key government agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Public Safety Office (PSO), and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

These agencies will collaborate to ensure a coordinated and seamless emergency response system. Once completed, the center will serve as a real-time surveillance and crisis response hub, enhancing traffic management, accident response, and synchronized preparation for emergencies, calamities, and major events such as the Peñafrancia Festival.

Executive Director Renne Gumba of the LGU’s Public Safety Office noted that Naga was selected by the National Resilience Council (NRC) as one of eight LGUs nationwide to participate in a program aimed at raising resilience awareness in governance. A partnership that lead to the creation of a comprehensive resilience blueprint.

“This is the level of resilience we are working on in Naga,” Gumba said. He also highlighted the NCRC’s goal to decimate the number of casualties, minimize property damaged, and minimize business disruptions during emergencies caused by both natural and man-induced hazards.

Legacion reflected on the origin of CeSaR, recalling that Naga City was chosen as a pilot site for resilience efforts. In coordination with the Naga City Resilience Council (NCRC), the LGU developed a partnership that led to the creation of a comprehensive resilience blueprint.

In July 2022, Legacion signed Executive Order No. 2022-020, which established the NCRC, tasked with disaster impact reduction through planning, risk assessment, responder training, and resident capacity-building. The NCRC is co-chaired by Legacion and Gumba.

With a budget of P400 million allocated for site development and construction, the CeSaR building is slated for completion in November 2025. Initially funded with P145 million from the national government’s General Appropriations Act, the center aims to be a next-generation solution to Naga’s technological needs, traffic management, incident response, and preparation for large-scale emergencies.

Gumba emphasized that CeSaR’s role extends beyond a mere command center, functioning as a complex that integrates all responders and service providers.

THE computer-generated photo of CeSaR being constructed at the Balatas Development Complex. CEPPIO