Council ok’s P9M for training on disaster preparedness

The Cebu City council last night approved a move of the city to spend P9.2 million for the training of 6,000 barangay volunteers to give them knowledge about disaster preparedness.

It was agreed that the amount would be coursed through the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation whose members are the ones tasked to train volunteers from 60 of the 80 barangays in the city.

The councilors approved the proposal of councilor Gerardo Carillo in allowing Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign a contract with Pek Eng Lim, chairman of the board of ERUF, for the realization of such purpose.

The P9,220,000 budget, or P1,536 allocation per participant, that would be provided to ERUF is for the expenses incurred during the barangay disaster preparedness training program.

ERUF shall facilitate and provide the venue, meals, training equipment, supplies, uniforms, identification cards and certificates of completion.

It was stated in the contract that two months after the training, ERUF shall make a follow-up on the efficiency of the volunteers in responding to disaster of said barangay every month for a period of four months.

Carillo made the proposal to train barangay volunteers so they could help the government in providing services in the event of a disaster. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV