ASIDE from conducting inspections of school facilities, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is taking measures to ensure that students are prepared for any untoward incidents ahead of the opening of classes on Monday, June 3, 2019.
In an interview on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, Rhee Telen Jr. of the PDRRMO said they are distributing at least 1,000 copies of films that teach students about disaster preparedness in public schools in the province.
“The film will show what the kids are capable of doing when it comes to disaster preparation and response. This is one of the methodologies we’re taking to ensure that the lessons are instilled among students and that we leave them something,” he said.
Introduced in 2016 in partnership with long-running children’s show Sesame Street, “Tales of Disaster” is a puppetry film which features a deaf girl as its protagonist.
Telen said a person with disability was made as the main character to promote awareness on inclusivity, and to teach children that they can make a change despite their uniqueness.
Each CD comes with a manual for teachers to initiate interactive discussions on what to do before, during and after a disaster happens.
Aside from English, the film comes in four dialects: Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Bisaya and Waray.
“This is a guided material. film showing is just to show the film, but there’s no step by step (guide on what to do). We want to not only develop cognitive learning, but also the affective side. We want kids to appreciate their role and emphasize that disaster preparedness in the family is not only the responsibility of the parents,” Telen said.
Each set costs P250 and is charged against the PDRRMO’s funds as part of its information and education campaign.
For this school year, Telen said their pilot area for the distribution of the learning materials are schools located within the third district.
He explained that this is because schools in the third district are very proactive with their disaster preparedness programs, and always hold regular trainings for their faculty and students. (RTF)