THE Baguio City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance mandating all private and public school teaching and non-teaching personnel to undergo risk reduction training pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
Authored by Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr., the ordinance is urging all private and public teaching and non-teaching personnel shall undergo regular risk reduction training to equip them with the proper knowledge and skills in coping with disaster situations.
Upon the approval of the local legislative measure, Yangot said a management council will be tasked to conduct safety training and seminars and monitor the effective implementation of the ordinance.
Yangot added all private and public schools will be given six months from the date of its effectivity to comply with the pertinent provisions of the measure.
The 1987 Constitution mandates the State to protect and promote the right of the people to basic health services, and instill health consciousness among them.
The alderman claimed the recent enactment of RA 10121 recognizes the necessity of being prepared in the eventuality of any disaster, natural or man-made, in order to prevent or lessen its after-effects.
During calamities, such as flashfloods, earthquakes, and even fire incidents, most often schools are used as evacuation centers, thus, the faculty members of private and public schools should undergo similar disaster risk reduction and management training and seminars and since majority of the children and youth are likewise to be inside campuses during daytime, and will allow them to handle any disaster or emergency situations.
Yangot claimed parents of the students will feel a lot safer knowing when it comes to emergency situations; the school personnel are properly trained to provide immediate care alongside with the barangay emergency response teams.
Schools would then be counted on to support the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, making it more efficient and responsive to the needs that may arise.
Yangot explained disasters or emergency situations happen anytime, thus, the need to equip the frontline personnel of schools to allow them to effectively and efficiently respond to such scenarios wherein the safety of life and limb is at stake.
The ordinance seeks to retool the teaching and non-teaching personnel on the appropriate knowledge and skills to spare lives from being put to extreme danger, especially among children whom they serve. (Dexter See/PIO)