Volunteers of Tisa disaster response team take oath

CEBU – Over 60 participants of the Barangay Disaster Action Response Team training-seminar in barangay Tisa took their oath of office yesterday before the personnel of the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation.

Barangay volunteers, who are now bonafide BDART members, were trained by ERUF technical personnel and training staff last September 19 to 21 in Camp Marina Vargas, barangay Kalunasan, on proper administering of first aid, search and rescue, and basic firefighting techniques.

“We hope nga inyong ma-share sa inyong barangay ang inyong mga nakat-onan ug nga manganak pa unta ug molambo ang inyong mga kahibalo mahitungod sa disaster preparedness,” ERUF paramedic Odell Mark Chavez said.

“Saving one’s life is your main task here. You should always be there when someone needs help,” said councilor Gerardo Carillo, chairman of the CCDCC.

In his speech, Tisa barangay captain Eduardo Cabulao Sr. told the new graduates “dili man nato matag-an o makita ang pag-abot sa kalamidad. At least, through BDART, andam ta permi ug makatabang ta sa atong isig ka ingon.”

“Hinaut unta nga kining gipangandaman nato karon makatabang sa kadaghanan,” the barangay captain added.

Prior to the oath-taking ceremony, the new graduates of the three-day live-in training-seminar joined a street parade yesterday morning which started at around 8 a.m.

The BDART graduates were grouped into 10 teams called the disaster control groups —security and crowd control, communications and logistics, warning, medical/first aid, fire brigade, supply, transportation, rescue, evacuation, and damage control.

Induction of BDART leaders and the distribution of certificates followed.

Two months after the completion of training in every barangay, ERUF will be monitoring and checking, within four months, on improvements and efficiency of volunteers in responding to disasters in their respective communities.  

Barangay Tisa is one of the 60 Cebu City barangays receiving training on disaster preparedness after the City Council approved the P9.2-million financial assistance to ERUF.

Creation of barangay disaster action response teams is a program of the ERUF and initiated by the city government through the CCDCC.   — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)