WITH THE rapid occurrence of landslides in Benguet, the Department of Education is pushing for a drill set for landslides.
“We are more exposed to landslide, whether earthquake induced pinupushed natin na may mai provide sila na specific drill na pang landslide,” says Nerissa Barbosa, Benguet Disaster Risk Reduction Management Coordinator for Department of Education.
During the Kapihan sa DepEd on Wednesday, Barbosa added they are awaiting for the Department of Science and Technology in charge of prevention mitigation cluster of DRRM to provide information education campaign on the matter.
“We cannot give the specific rain standard when it comes to landslide so ang pinaka key lang talaga doon maging alert ang bawat isa, maging aware sa kanyang surroundings, huwag matigas ang ulo buhay muna bago ang mga ari-arian,” disclosed Barbosa.
For the learners, the DepEd official added safety is already incorporated in the different school curriculum on what to do before during and after landslides incorporated in the science subjects.
“We also have earthquake drill. We are also strengthening the inclusion of the community, parents and not isolated with only students and teachers, we are also including the barangay,” she added.
A conduct of the post disaster needs assessment within Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay area in seeing the impact of typhoon Ompong and the long term plan for recovery and rehabilitation.
“Itogon was hard hit. Hindi exactly iyong schools but the community itself kung saan nakatayo iyong ating eskwelahan at iyong learners natin nakatira sa community affected sila sa landslides,” Barbosa added.
A psychosocial intervention was provided for more than 800 learners of Ucab Elementary School which is the biggest school in the municipality of Itogon.
Public Schools District Supervisor Itogon District I Rosita Dayag said for Goldfield School, a makeshift classroom has been put up and being utilize for at least 200 affected students.
“In Ucab, they are still looking for more safer ground to put up and to date there is still no relocation,” said Dayag.
After typhoon Ompong, the Mines Geosciences Bureau has released an updated geohazard map in the whole Cordillera region.
Dayag said most schools not only in Itogon, but entire Benguet are situated in high risk areas.
Barbosa said for their part, they are acquiring data in the barangay level to take a look in the specific risk.
She added the schools are sending letters requesting for the assessment of schools from the MGB-CAR.