IN LINE with the celebration of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM), the public is urged to be ready in case of disasters and to at least contribute in saving a life before the arrival of responders.
Several activities are lined up as part of the month long celebration with the theme “Kamalayan sa Kahandaan, Katumbas ay Kalikasan,” which include film viewing about disasters and emergencies, teaching of standard first aid to all Department of Health (DOH) employees, showcasing of equipment used in preparation for any forms of emergency and disasters, and blood-letting.
This month’s activities, according to Clark Dizon of the DOH, are focused on disaster resilience in thematic areas, which include disaster preparedness, disaster response, disaster prevention and mitigation, and disaster rehabilitation and recovery.
Dizon added since the shifting of the theme to disaster consciousness to disaster resilience is new, DOH is still working on how to make the people resilient by mentally conditioning them to be prepared, as compared to building the people’s consciousness or raising awareness for instance.
“Maganda yung shifting ng awareness to resilience kasi alam nga natin ‘yung preparedness. Conscious nga tayo, pero pag dating naman ng disaster, ikaw pa yung unang nag re-react,” said Dizon.
Jose Valera, assistant regional director of the Office of the Civil Defense in the region, said Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) residents need more awareness and training which they must know by heart.
Valera added more men and equipment are needed to help in case the whole region is devastated.
“We must cascade the information to everybody” regarding what to do before, during, and after the calamity,” Valera said emphasizing OCD-Cordillera, being the lead of CARDRRM Council, could not do it alone and urged stakeholders and the community to participate in formulating safety because panic is one cause of having more casualties. (Arianne Jo Julaton/UP Baguio intern)