Teachers to undergo quake preparedness lectures

CEBU, Philippines - A series of earthquake preparedness lectures by Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management (CCRDDMO) will kick off today starting with public school teachers.

"We will start with the teachers. Later on, we hope to extend to barangay officials, private companies, hospitals, malls, among others. Our target is to provide them with information needed to prevent panic," Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak told The Freeman.

Department of Education (DepEd) offices and Cebu City and Province are in coordination with the city government in arranging for the 20-minute lecture to be conducted by barangay-based emergency Medical Service units.

Tumulak said this has always been in the checklist of CCDRRMO, but was just expedited due to the strong quake that jolted Cebu and Bohol provinces Tuesday last week.

"Massive information campaign is part of the city's EMS. This is apart from our emergency response function. The information dissemination campaign will empower citizens and lessen ill effects in times of calamities such as earthquakes," Tumulak told The Freeman.

CCDRRMO operations head Alvin Santillana yesterday conducted a briefing with trained emergency responders from barangay Pit-os, Inayawan, and Labangon. —(FREEMAN)