Caravan set to make people aware, prepared vs disasters

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  â€”  A Disaster Awareness Caravan will be held from September 26 to 28 in this city to make people alert and prepared in time of calamity, especially in disaster-prone barangays.

The 3-day caravan is expected to be participated by at least 500 families from 12 barangays in the city that were affected by massive flooding due to tropical storm Sendong in December 2011, according to City Administrator William Ablong.

The city government, in cooperation with Smart Communications, Inc., is spearheading the caravan, which will have a number of activities, mostly on information dissemination and education on disaster awareness and preparedness, said Ablong.

Families will be given tips on putting together emergency kits, such as food provisions, clothing, flashlights and the like, he added.

The 12 barangays that were badly hit by Sendong and displaced hundreds of families were Cadawinonan, Junob, Bagacay, Tabuctubig, Buñao, Balugo, Camanjac, Candauay, Mangnao, Banilad and Calindagan.

To date, many families in these barangays are still homeless, awaiting relocation by the city government. Some are temporarily staying with relatives, others living in makeshift tents and shanties, while many more have already availed of free housing offered in a joint undertaking by the Catholic Church and the LGU.

The caravan will reel off with a press conference on September 26 at a local hotel, to be attended by Smart Communications officials, Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling, Sr., Ablong and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer Jose Chu, among others.

The first 100 families to register for the culmination program on September 28 at the Dumaguete City High School will be given emergency kits by Smart Communications, Ablong said.

The city government thanked the telecommunications company for supporting the Caravan and allocating funds for the information and dissemination campaign on disaster awareness and preparedness for the families, Ablong added.  (FREEMAN)