New OCD chief Cabreros assumes post

By Priam Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency

On his very first day as Civil Defense Administrator, Harold Cabreros immediately led the Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell meeting at the Office of Civil Defense headquarters, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. (Photo: Civil Defense PH/Facebook)

Undersecretary Harold Cabreros took his oath as OCD administrator before Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

A DND statement said Cabreros replaced OCD officer-in-charge and concurrent deputy administrator for administration, Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV.

Alejandro was named OCD officer-in-charge in June after then-OCD chief Ariel Nepomuceno was appointed Bureau of Customs commissioner.

Teodoro expressed confidence in Cabreros’ leadership and capabilities to steer the country’s comprehensive civil defense and disaster resilience programs, in support of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Cabreros previously served as director of the Rehabilitation and Recovery Management Service of the OCD.

A member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1984, he joined the agency in 2017 shortly after his retirement from the military.

The OCD is the primary government agency mandated to implement and administer policies, strategies, and systems to reduce the country’s vulnerabilities and risks to hazards, as well as manage the consequences of disasters.