ILOILO City – Disaster resiliency is equally important as addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and others. Collective effort is required, too.
This was stressed by Melissa Banias, chief of the Operations Section of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Western Visayas during the kick-off of the National Disaster Resilience Month 2022 at the Northpoint Activity Center of SM City Iloilo over the weekend.
With the theme, “Sambayanang Pilipino, Nagkakaisa Tungo sa Katatagan at Maunlad na Kinabukasan”, the observance emphasizes the importance of collaboration to overcome the challenges of this pandemic and prepare the public for new emerging disasters toward building a safer, adaptive and resilient future.
“Now more than ever, emergency preparedness is a team sport. Gone are the days when one person or one office or one agency could manage a disaster on its own. What has emerged from our past typhoon experiences such as Typhoon ‘Odette’ and Typhoon ‘Agaton’ alongside COVID-19 is that it takes a team to overcome a crisis,” said Banias.
The month of July each year is observed as National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) throughout the country.
Executive Order No. 29-2017 mandates the conduct of activities relative to building of disaster resilience covering the four thematic areas: prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation, and recovery.
The observance emphasizes the importance of strengthening and unifying disaster risk reduction activities by leveraging on the participation of the general public and the national government agencies, local government units, public and private sector employees, and civil society organizations in transitioning to better new normal and preparation for new emerging disasters.
According to Banias, the activity also highlights the need for a “whole-of-nation approach” or community effort in disaster preparedness and emergency response; the directives and guidance of the government; the support of the private sector; and the cooperation of the public.
In Region 6, part of the activity was the Static Display of Disaster Equipment and IEC (Information, Education and Communication) Materials showcasing the effective emergency response capability of various stakeholders in the region.
Through this static display of IEC materials that are vital in preparing everyone in any eventualities, Banias is hopeful that the public will continue to learn, unlearn and relearn all the necessary disster risk reduction and management concepts and principles, mechanism and protocols.
Banias, who represented OCD Region 6 Disaster Risk Reduction Management Division head Aletha Nogra during the kick-off ceremony, also noted that proposed activities for the observance NDRM are aligned and in adherence to the COVID-19 risk mitigation measures relative to the current IATF protocols.
Moreover, the need to prepare is also highlighted by the fact that the month of July marks the start of the wet or typhoon season in the country.
“Now the question is, are you in or out of the team?” Banias asked the public./PN
