July 31, Baguio City—An earthquake drill in Ampucao Elementary School marked the last leg of disaster risk reduction activities conducted in observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month.
Eight public elementary schools in Benguet and Mountain Province organized their School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (SDRRMC) and drafted their contingency plans. Grade level-specific lesson plans on earthquake were also drafted by teachers to ensure pupils’ full understanding before earthquake drills proceeded.
The series of disaster risk reduction (DRR) trainings for teachers and earthquake drills were spearheaded by the Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services, Inc. (CorDisRDS), a non-government organization based in the Cordillera that supports people’s effort in addressing the problem of disaster vulnerability and help them increase their capacities. The activities were endorsed by the Department of Education-CAR, in reference to the Office Order directing all schools “to plan and undertake significant and meaningful activities anchored on disaster preparedness” from July 1-31 in observance of National Disaster Consciousness Month.
CorDisRDS works with its partner NGOs within the CARE-Nederland Alliance. They implement two complementary projects that are supported by the European Commission (Scale Up, Build Up project) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Partners for Resilience. Capacity-building of the education sector is one of the key result areas of the projects. CARE-Nederland alliance gives priority to the public elementary schools that are located in the high-risk barangays in the municipalities of Bokod and Itogon in Benguet, and Bauko and Tadian in Mountain Province.
The month-long celebration commenced in two public elementary schools in Bauko, Mountain Province. The first school earthquake drill was supposed to be conducted in July 16 at Ucab Elementary School, in remembrance of the 1990 earthquake that devastated the region 23 years ago. Mayor Vic Palangdan himself went to observe the drill, but heavy rains poured so the activity was cancelled. The activity was pursued by the same school in July 24 and participated in by almost a thousand pupils, teachers and barangay officials. Representatives from DepEd’s regional, division and district offices also went to observe the activities.
“Children are the most vulnerable sector during disasters. Most of their time is spent in schools. It is very crucial that teachers and other school personnel are equipped with knowledge and necessary skills in preparing for and managing disasters. So school’s role serve as an institution for learning and as a venue for protecting the rights of the people affected by disasters,” Jimmy Khayog, CorDisRDS Executive Director, said.
“We make sure that contingency plans made by schools will not be confined in schools only. It should be integrated in the barangay contingency plans and even up to the municipal level. In fact, same trainings are given to teachers and barangay LGUs. In some cases, dialogues are facilitated between the school personnel and barangay officials on matters concerning disaster prevention and management. This way, community participation is ensured.”##