A new memorandum of understanding was signed yesterday at the Cagliari Fair between the Sardinia Region, the Prefectures, and the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI). It defines the structure and functioning of the new territorial Civil Protection units . The document, presented during the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) Assembly, aims to strengthen coordination between institutions and make emergency management more effective.
The agreement was signed by the Councillor for Environmental Protection Rosanna Laconi , the General Director of the Regional Civil Protection Mauro Merella , the Prefect of Cagliari Giuseppe Castaldo , the Prefect of Sassari Grazia La Fauci , the Deputy Prefect of Nuoro Giorgio Collu , the Deputy Prefect of Oristano Giuseppe Rania and the President of Anci Sardegna Daniela Falconi . Also present at the signing were the Government Representative for Sardinia Sebastiano Cento , the Head of the National Department of Civil Protection Fabio Ciciliano and the President of the Region Alessandra Todde .
The meeting was opened and moderated by Falconi, who recalled the extensive itinerant work carried out in recent months together with the Regional Civil Protection , the Prefectures, the mayors, and the various operational structures. A shared path, he explained, which has allowed the territorial areas of Civil Protection to be defined through a method considered "successful" and replicable in other sectors of the regional administration. The Prefect of Cagliari, Giuseppe Castaldo, emphasized the quality of the institutional work carried out, the result of constant dialogue between all the actors involved. The protocol, he explained, allows for the clarification of roles and operational procedures, ensuring stable coordination and preventing overlaps during emergencies . Councilor Laconi highlighted the value of "local Civil Protection," recalling that the signing of the protocol does not represent a point of arrival but a step in a process marked by sharing . The territorial areas and operational centers, she explained, will not only be physical structures, but garrisons composed of people who monitor the territory even in normal times . The ATPCs will be available to mayors, municipal technicians, volunteers, and Civil Protection workers, and will also serve as training venues. Thanks to the new governance, municipalities will be able to share resources and become "their own first responders," improving the regional system's response capacity.
Francesco Spanedda , Councilor for Local Government and Urban Planning , emphasized that the new territorial areas foster greater participation and a better articulation of functions, making the Region's overall action more coherent. Antonio Piu, Councilor for Public Works, spoke of an innovative vision that finally allows for the implementation of protocols that had previously remained on paper, thanking the mayors in particular for their collaboration. Mauro Merella, Director General of the Regional Civil Protection Department, outlined the technical and administrative process initiated in 2021 with a review of municipal plans, which identified critical issues and needs. Subsequent discussions with municipalities, unions, prefectures, the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI), and volunteers led to the definition of the territorial areas, approved this year by the Regional Council. The protocol signed yesterday formalizes the organizational structure of the Civil Protection territorial areas and governs their operation. Several mayors attended the meeting, including those of Alà dei Sardi, Samassi, Bari Sardo, Ossi, and Cagliari.
Fabio Ciciliano, head of the National Civil Protection Department, called the day "historic," emphasizing that it was the first time in Italy that a region had such a comprehensive tool. The meeting was closed by Regional President Alessandra Todde, who spoke of regions that are "returning to the forefront." "Today we have a path with defined responsibilities, clear processes, and action shared with the regions," Todde concluded.
(Unioneonline)
