Es mejor prevenir que lamentar: The Disaster Prevention Management in Mexico

Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana defines disaster as "...an event concentrated on time and space in which society or a part of it suffers severe damage...in such a way that the social structure breaks down and prevents the execution of the essential activities of the society, affecting its vital operations." Mexico is not a stranger to disasters, particularly those caused by natural disturbing phenomena. Its geographical location and vast territory, development pace and great industrial activity make the country vulnerable to damages brought by disasters. Just recently, flood and landslide damaged the eastern Michoacán state of the central Pacific coast of Mexico, not to mention the 7.2-magnitude earthquake felt in Mexico and the Southwest of US in April of this year.


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Mexico responds to emergency, aids the harmed population and recovers the affected areas through the Plan DN-III, established by Mexico‘s National Defense in 1966 and was carried out by the Mexican Army. Its objective was to execute rescue, recovery and assistance to those damaged by disasters, to keep the social order and to prevent future calamities through risk -monitoring. However, the earthquakes of September 19 and 20, 1985, which caused huge infrastructure damage in Mexico city and left 7,000 people dead and 20, 000 injured, required the creation of a response to emergency situations that would involve different institutions. 

The National Commission of Reconstruction (CNR) in October 1985, with the objective of coordinating assistance to the affected population, and to establish mechanism to support the population in face of future disasters by incorporating the experiences of the public, private and social institutions, as well as of the scientific community and the population in general, took care of the reconstruction of the metropolitan area of Mexico city. It was also tasked to execute studies that would lead to the establishment of the National System of Civil Protection (SistemaNacional de Protección Civil, SINAPROC). 

In order to attain the objectives of CNR, it developed the ―Bases for the Establishment of the National System of Civil Protection‖ or SINAPROC in 1986. SINAPROC was presented as "the organic articulated set of structures, functional relationships, methods and procedures established by the public sector agencies and bodies among themselves with the organizations of the various voluntary, social, and private groups, and with the authorities of the states, the Federal District and the municipalities, in order to carry out coordinated actions, aimed at protection from dangers that arise and the recovery of the population should a disaster occur."

At present, SINAPROC stands with the objective of protecting people and the society in case of a disaster caused naturally or by human forces, through actions that reduce and eliminate the loss of lives, the destruction of material property, damage to nature, as well as interruption of the essential functions of society, and to seek the recovery of the population and its surroundings to their conditions before the disaster. During times of disaster relief and recovery, vulnerable and low-income groups shall be prioritized. To this day, after more than two decades since the creation of SINAPROC, advances in the preparation and execution of measuresfor risk reduction have increased and a number of deaths from disasters have significantly declined. It is no wonder then that Mexico now has a high level of knowledge on topics of Civil Protection. Indeed, the country is considered as one of those with better prevention and emergency relief programs in the world and has been recognized globally for its good practices in disaster management.
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SINAPROC acknowledges that successful execution of a disaster recovery is based on cooperation and participation of governmental and non-governmental institutions, thus it has integrated several institutions designated for monitoring events that can cause a natural disaster. They are the following: 



Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB) is the head in terms of civil protection. The Secretary of Interior consults and reports directly to the President of the Republic. SEGOB has the task of ensuring peace and order, security for all Mexicans and protection to their integrity. With regard to civil protection, SEGOB is in charge of coordinating help from public institutions and to distribute international humanitarian aid towards the affected areas.



National Disaster Prevention Center (CENAPRED) is a scientific and technological center which was created in 1988 through a presidential decree to serve as the technical arm of SINAPROC. It conducts research and awareness campaigns about natural phenomena that can cause disaster, as well as promote self-protection to mitigate the negative effects of such phenomena.



General Coordination of Civil Protection (CGPC) promotes and coordinates the operations of SINAPROC, the execution of civil protection programs on a federal, state and municipal level, the inter-institutional coordination in case of emergency and disaster 



Head Office for Civil Protection (DGPC) is the operative arm of CGPC and is tasked to design, formulate and evaluate policies and programs of civil protection.



Natural Disaster Fund (FONDEN) distributes resources and funds to affected areas and population during emergency and after the disaster. SINAPROC is likewise composed by the State Civil Protection System, Municipal Civil Protection System, the National Council, the agencies, bodies and institutions of the federal government, and the Mexican population, which is the main beneficiary of the operations of SINAPROC and the principal reason of its creation.



Sources: www.ppa.com.ph; www.cpa.gov.ph; www.sbma.com;
www.worldportsource.com.