THE local government units and national government agencies in Davao Region have prepared various activities for this year’s observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) in a bid to continue raising public awareness and promoting disaster resilience in the region.
Karlo Alexie Puerto, information officer of the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao), in an interview, emphasized the need to involve the communities to take steps in achieving resilience among the constituents.
Puerto said that this has been the goal of Executive Order 29 signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte on June 28, 2017, mandating the observance of NDRM "throughout the country through the conduct of activities relative to the building of disaster resilience covering the four thematic areas."
The NDRM celebration in the region kicked off with a “Fun Run for Disaster Resilience” which was participated in by the OCD-Davao personnel on July 1 at SM City Davao.
On Monday, July 3, about 200 participants from the member-agencies of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-Davao Region, students from public and private schools, and other invited stakeholders, have joined a webinar highlighting the importance of psychological support services during and after disasters.
There will also be school tours and exhibits which will showcase DRRM-related information and education campaigns (IECs) through the installation of infographic standees (outdoor) and conduct of recorida (record and tour) at identified schools/universities in Davao Region.
These activities will invite selected agencies to share their knowledge on different disaster hazards and on disaster preparedness to students, particularly to senior high school and/or college or university students, who are more receptive to this advocacy campaign.
Puerto also called on junior and senior high school students to participate in the NDRM Mobile Photography Contest.
Participants must register and submit their entries online through this link: https://tinyurl.com/ NDRM2023PHOTO on or before July 15.
OCD-Davao OIC and RDRRMC-Davao Acting Chair Lenie Alegre said that a culminating activity with a thanksgiving mass, and awarding of the Regional Gawad Kalasag Award and photo contest winners will be held on July 31 in Davao City.
“All CDRRMOs and PDRRMOs from Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental and all the public and private high schools in Davao Region are invited to join in the activities,” Alegre said.
The NDRM celebration this year, bannering the theme “BIDAng Pilipino: Building a Stronger Filipino Well-being towards Disaster Resilience,” aims to focus on ensuring that the well-being of every Filipino is well taken care of so that they can efficiently contribute in the effort to build a disaster resilient nation. PIA DAVAO