Proactive approaches highlight Disaster Consciousness Month

CEBU, Philippines - With calamities becoming more frequent and disastrous each year, Department of Social Welfare and Development 7 Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre is urging the public to be “ready and vigilant” to abate the effects of both natural and man-made disasters.

Macapobre also urged barangays to reactivate local disaster coordinating councils, as they serve to be the barangay’s first line of defense when disasters strike.

With the theme “Pag-alerto, Malayo sa Peligro,” DSWD is focusing on pro-active approaches to disasters in its month-long observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month this July.

DSWD Information Officer Jaybee Carillo said calamities like fires, earthquakes and typhoons visit the country at an average of 20 occurrences a year and leaves the country with several hundreds, if not millions of pesos, worth of damages.

“During calamities, may it be man made or natural, hundreds of people are woefully killed, injured and maimed. These deaths, property losses and other consequential effects are hurting, leaving frustrations and worsen the people’s poor economic and social condition,” Carillo added.

This year, DSWD has partnered with other government agencies and non-government organizations, including the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council in preparing activities to emphasize the importance of awareness in times of disaster.

Among the activities include a motorcade, mass for disaster victims, photo exhibit, earthquake and bomb explosion drills, tree planting, and orientation and consultation on the revised guideline on cluster approach in disaster management.

Training on Enhanced Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing, a seminar workshop on damage assessment and needs analysis, orientation on typhoon and flood awareness and on Influenza A (H1N1) for DSWD center staff and clients will also be conducted.

DSWD will also be awarding the winners of the Gawad Kalasag Search.

“These activities are geared towards advocating disaster risk management, discussing the causes and effects of global warming and coming up with proposals for policy agenda, as well as demonstrating practical skills on evacuation procedures during disasters,” Carillo said.

The line-up of activities is also geared at teaching DSWD personnel on basic first aide principles, techniques and right attitude in the management of victims or patients, and review contingency plans to come up with better recommendations.

The observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month is in line with Presidential Executive Order No. 137, which designates the month of July as such to heighten public awareness on the importance of disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)