Disaster consciousness month: Brgy execs undergo training on disasters

CEBU, Philippines - Officials from the barangay disaster risk reduction committee and tanods from Talisay City's 22 barangays underwent a three-day series of trainings and seminars on disaster preparedness.

According to City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer and information officer Vince Monterde, the Disaster Management Training was done to prevent loss of life, protect property and minimize damages during disasters and calamities.

The seminar was held in Alta Cebu Village Garden Resort and Convention Center in Cordova town.

Monterde emphasized the importance of being prepared for any possible calamity, which can happen anytime and anywhere. He said the problem can be made more difficult by being unprepared.

He said other calamities such as fire, earthquake and floods may pose great threat to lives and properties.

Monterde said the activity was in line with the celebration as the National Disaster Consciousness Month this year bannering the theme "Kahandaan at Kaligtasan ng Pamayanan, Pundasyon ng Kaunlaran."

In yesterday's seminar, participants were given focus to the salient features of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2012.

The topic on the usage of the calamity fund was also discussed as a portion of this can now be used in the preparation stage to fund the plans of the city and barangay disaster coordinating council in making the council prepared in case a calamity may hit their locality.

Also included in the three-day activity were discussions on incident Command System, Health Emergency Management System, Disaster Reporting System and Relief and Rescue Operations.

After the seminar, participants underwent an action planning and workshop to formulate their Contingency Plan Preparation and assess their current local disaster situation, relief and rescue operations, and reporting system.

The seminar facilitators were from Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction, state weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the city social welfare.