City sets disaster trainings

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City government will be creating barangay response teams in the 30 barangays   in a disaster preparedness training meant to gear up residents for upcoming calamities.

Teodulo Ybañez, city administrator, said they are starting to conduct training programs per barangay this month. He said the city allocated P130 million for disaster preparedness programs this year.

Ybañez said they are targeting 15 barangays to undergo trainings by the end of this year, teaching their volunteer response teams about safety measures such as do's and don'ts.

The city administrator added that they are tapping the Philippine Red Cross– Lapu-Lapu and Cordova Chapters to assist in teaching the barangay volunteers to respond in natural disaster situations.

Barangay Mactan, according to Ybañez, has finished its workshop last Tuesday. Next in line will be Barangay Pusok this coming October 9.

Ybañez plans to totally finish the training program for the barangay response team by the first quarter of the year 2015. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)