ABOITIZ Group social development arm Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (Aboitiz Foundation) teamed up with the Weather Philippines Foundation, Inc. (WPF), University of the Philippines’ Resilience Institute (UPRI) and UP Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazard (UP Noah) to conduct Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CBDRRM) training sessions to various communities nationwide.
The capability building project aims to equip assisted communities with the right skills in identifying, analyzing, and creating Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) plans to enhance their capacities to effectively prepare for and respond to disasters.
The training is based on a CBDRRM curriculum that was developed by the Aboitiz Foundation with the assistance of Aboitiz business units.
Aboitiz Foundation conducted the pilot run of a two-day CBDRRM training course with AboitizPower subsidiary Hedcor Sibulan, Inc. in Bago Aplaya, Talomo District, Davao City on April 19 to 20, 2018. Participants included Hedcor teammates, Sta. Cruz local DRRM officers, BDRRM Council, barangay officials, and community representatives.
During the training, WPF shared basic concepts and effects of different weather disturbances and rain-producing weather systems in the country.
This weather knowledge is helpful in creating preparedness action plans and making practical decisions to reduce the impacts of weather-related disasters. The UPRI and Noah introduced a freely accessible, accurate, reliable, and relevant scientific disaster data and highlighted a multidisciplinary approach in assessing risk.
“I am grateful for this training because my knowledge was enriched especially in hazard mapping, identifying critical structures, and creating a disaster management plan. We are lucky because we are the pilot community. It will help our barangay a lot in terms of planning and implementation on disaster management,” said Adisa Lumpapac, Darong Elementary School DRR coordinator.
“We in the Aboitiz Group develop innovative solutions towards advancing business and communities. Our CBDRRM training curriculum incorporates weather knowledge to help the communities better respond to disaster risks. We commit to rolling this out to more communities nationwide, as part of our strategy to co-create safer, empowered, and sustainable communities,” Aboitiz Foundation first vice president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan said. (PR)