CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The "Save the Children" has conducted a seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) in Minalin, Pampanga in a bid to educate local officials and residents about disaster preparedness.
The seminar started last Monday and it will end Wednesday at Lola Corazon Leisure Farm in Candaba.
Around 50 officials and residents of Barangays Sta. Rita, Sta. Catalina, San Pedro, and San Francisco I, attended the three-day DRRM training.
Participants were oriented about climate change, global warming, hazards affecting Central Luzon and how to cope up with the impacts of disasters.
A group, tasked to lead residents in emergency situations, will be formed in flood-prone barangays.
Ned Olney, Director of Save the Children Philippines, said the importance of DRRM.
"Building the capacity of local officials and community on disaster risk reduction and management is one key element in saving lives because they are the people directly making decisions and implementing the disaster risk reduction and management activities," said Olney.
He added, "Aside from building the capacity of children through our school-based disaster risk reduction efforts, we also aim at building the capacity of the barangay officials, of every family on how to manage and respond to hazards and emergencies. Our precious children are the most vulnerable in any disaster, and the tremendous impact of disasters could leave severe consequences. We don’t want this happen, and this is the core reason why we are building the capacity of our local partners on disaster risk reduction and management."
Save the Children has been working in the Philippines since 1981. In 2012, they directly reached more than 560,000 boys and girls across the country.
The group provides humanitarian and long-term support, working closely with partners across the country.