MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City council approved on Monday a measure that will require teaching and non-teaching personnel in the city’s public and private schools to undergo disaster risk reduction training to ensure the safety of their students.
The measure, authored by third district Councilor Don de Leon, said the teachers should also be trained so they could provide additional manpower in times of disaster. It has yet to be approved by Mayor Herbert Bautista.
The ordinance said all barangays are now required to organize their respective barangay emergency response teams (BERTs) to respond to cases involving immediate risk to life and health.
The city’s department of public order and safety through its disaster risk reduction and management office will be tasked to implement the ordinance.
Schools are required to comply with the measure six months after the mayor approves its enactment. Failure to do so will merit a P5,000 fine and possible revocation of the business permits of private schools.