DAVAO City is set to launch a month-long celebration for National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) this July, with the theme:
“Kumikilos, Kayang Umaksyon ang Mamamayan: Isabuhay ang Kahandaan ng Bawat Isa Para Maging Ligtas sa Oras ng Sakuna.”
According to Lyndon Leovic Ancajas, acting head of the Law Enforcement, Communication, and Rescue Division (LECRD) – Central 911, and acting overall training supervisor of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the city has lined up a series of activities that aim to strengthen disaster preparedness and awareness.
The celebration will officially open on July 1, 2025, with a Town Hall Session scheduled for July 2 at The Ritz Hotel. This gathering will bring together all barangay captains, treasurers, Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) officers, and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons.
Key discussions will includ recent issuances from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), budget utilization guidance from the Commission on Audit (COA), class suspension protocols from the Department of Education (DepEd), and Health updates on monkeypox and Covis-19 variants from the City Health Office (CHO).
One of the month’s highlights will be the 5th Citywide ShakeOut Full-Scale Earthquake and Tsunami Simulation Exercise on July 25 at exactly 9 a.m. All barangays and districts across Davao City will participate in the simultaneous drill, aimed at improving community response during disasters.
“So far, we’re seeing increased awareness and better practice among communities,” Ancajas said during the ISpeak Media Forum on June 26 at the City Mayor’s Office.
“We can see growing participation and the impact of our continuous information and education campaigns. But Davao is a large city—we still have many communities to reach.”
In preparation for the drill, the following activities will take place: July 22 - practice run using hazard maps, July 23 - communication test, and July 29 - post-activity assessment and report.
The celebration will conclude on August 1 with a tree-planting activity involving city councilors, barangay officials, volunteers, and partner organizations.
Ancajas also urged the public to actively participate in the ShakeOut drill by practicing the “duck, cover, and hold” routine at the scheduled time. He reminded residents in tsunami-prone areas to coordinate with their barangay officials to identify evacuation routes and safe zones.
“When the siren sounds, be ready to evacuate. Knowing your evacuation area in advance is key,” he said. Rovie Ann Remolleno, Davao del Sur State College Intern