City trains 20 barangays on disaster preparedness

Officials and residents of 20 barangays in the city that have been identified as disaster-prone areas will undergo a series of training seminars on disaster preparedness.

Representatives of barangays Suba, Pasil and Sawang Calero are among the first to undergo the three-day training which will be held at the Boys Scouts Camp in Lahug starting today until Sunday.

The other barangays that have been identified as disaster-prone areas and will also undergo training are San Roque, Ciudad Ruizo, Ermita, Duljo-Fatima, Mambaling, Basak-San Nicolas, Cogon Pardo, Inayawan, T. Padilla, Day-as, Zapatera, Luz, Carreta, Calamba, Sambag I and II and Pahina Central.

Each barangay is required to send 100 representatives, which would include officials and residents. The participants of the training are expected to formulate their respective disaster preparedness plans with emphasis on efficient medical and non-medical emergency procedures and the creation of the Barangay Disaster Response Action Team.

The training, which has a P2.2 million funding from the city government, is also expected to create and maintain a first aid disaster center located in the individual barangays.

Personnel and volunteers from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, the Cebu City Fire Department, the City Traffic Operations Management, the Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are among those who will lead the training. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan