Post-Disaster Team effort

CEBU, Philippines - Philippine Guidance Counseling Association, Inc. initiates a training program for around 80 registered guidance counselors and associates so they can respond as a trained group, providing psychosocial support for survivors of calamities.

PGCA Cebu Chapter vice president Dr. Portia D. Dacalos said that in the past, they have responded as individuals. "Now we would want to serve as a trained group," she said.

Modules on psychosocial first aid for children-survivors, adolescents, adults, elderly, and the differently abled were tackled during the two-day orientation cum workshop, from November 11 to 12, wherein participants were directed on how they can come into the picture as response to calamities or disasters; and guided on the specific level and kind of assistance needed.

PGCA National Chapter president Dr. Benedicta O. Lascano of the University of the Philippines-Diliman graced the training to emphasize coordination among its 14 chapters all over the country. The sad fact though is that there is no chapter in Bohol, thus they have to send members of the Cebu chapter which takes quite a while because of concerns in logistics and manpower. They are about to bring the training to its Tacloban chapter in February 2014, but the move is already overtaken by events.

"That's why we are strengthening our resources right now, since we rely mainly on seminars to raise funds, so we can give appropriate interventions in the form of counseling, dance, play, creative arts, music, prayers and rituals [among others] in helping individuals cope with the ill effects of tragedies on their lives," Dr. Lascano said.

As for Dr. Dacalos, she mentioned that in working with children and adolescents, they would be considering that even though kids can bounce back because of their playful nature, it should be noted that schooling has been disrupted. "In Bohol, we have to consider that though children seem to be resilient, at the back of their minds, there is always that thought that the ground is not a safe place to play anymore," she pointed out. "That's what we are hoping to process, since they are not like the elderly who are more vocal or verbal about their fears."

As for the looting that earlier occurred in heavily devastated Tacloban City, Dacalos underlined that people should be allowed to speak about their fears. "Survivors must be allowed to articulate their fears. Ransacking is either a manifestation of the feelings that they have been deprived of something. They might be either afraid or uncertain of the future, but in fairness to them, we have to listen. That's why this ongoing seminar is highly encouraged," she added.

From Drs. Lascano and Dacalos it was learned that psychosocial support is ideally administered within 72 hours from the onset of a calamity.

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