The Ayala Foundation Inc., in partnership the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) and the City Government of Davao, on Tuesday opened the two-day (March 19-20) Disaster Education Training for local emergency responders at the HCDC campus.
The training seminar dubbed “Maging Handa: Upskilling Disaster Responders,” aims to re-educate and upskill at least 100 responders and 100 teachers in Davao City to conduct similar disaster education training in their communities.
The activity also aims to aid in the implementation of the Local Climate Change and Action Plan.
The Office of the Civil Defense XI, Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Planning and Development Office, City Information Office, Media Educators of Mindanao, Wilderness Search and Rescue (WISAR) Philippines, Foundation for Advancing Wellness, Instruction and Talents (AWIT) Inc. are also partners for the event.
Around 200 educators, Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management (BDRRM) responders, and civil society organizations participated in the training that included disaster resilience lectures, disaster resilience simulation, mental health and psychosocial support, mobile journalism on disaster resilience, SPHERE: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response, and discussion on local climate change action plans
Celerina Amores, Senior Director of the Ayala Foundation Corporate Citizenship, bared this is the first time the foundation partnered with a local government unit to give disaster preparedness trainings.
“Davao has always been innovative, very dynamic and very receptive of suggestions and that’s exactly the community, the partner that we are looking for,” Amores said in a speech during the training’s opening program.
HCDC President Br. Noelviv Deloria talked about the importance of being prepared in these particularly tumultuous times where climate change has caused uncertainties in weather and climate prediction.
He hoped the participants would create a community that will propagate the lessons and knowledge imparted to them to other people in their communities.
Councilor Tek Ocampo said Davao City, as a Gawad Kalasag hall of famer, puts great emphasis on disaster preparedness and emergency response. As such, Ocampo said the city’s DRRM sector will be able to greatly contribute to the discussions in the training.
Reading a message from Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Ocampo challenged the participants to learn as much as they can and share their gained insights to as many as they can and as effectively as possible.
“Together, let us strengthen our efforts and capacity to foster a sense of security and build safer, more resilient community,” the councilor read.
The event was also attended by OCD XI Regional Director Ednar Dayanghirang, CDRRMO Head Alfredo Baloran, WISAR founder Dr. Ted Esguerra, AWIT founder Dr. Dinah Palmera Nadera and other officials from public and private agencies. CIO
