ILOILO City – With the theme “BIDAng Pilipino: Building a Stronger Filipino Well-being towards Disaster Resilience”, the National Disaster Resilience Month celebration officially kicked off in Region 6.
Executive Order No. 29, series of 2017, designates the month of July of each year as the National Disaster Resilience Month throughout the country and mandates the conduct of activities relative to building disaster resilience.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6, which also chairs the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), spearheaded the celebration on Saturday, July 1, in Bacolod City.
A “Run for Resilience” activity joined by over 300 participants was held for a jumpstart. This three-kilometer run, which aims to raise public awareness regarding the NDRM 2023, started from the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Bacolod City.
Also part of the kick-off activities were Regional Poster Making and Quiz Bee contests for elementary and high school learners.
These contests aim to deepen the appreciation and consciousness of the learners about DRRM, increase advocacy and public awareness about DRRM, and provide incentives to select elementary and high school students who devote special moments to the mastery of the DRRM context.
Rafael Monta of Crisente Chavez Christian School from the Schools Division of Guimaras topped the quiz bee contest, while Neil Anthony Alonday of Alimodian Comprehensive National High School from the Schools Division of Iloilo placed first in the poster-making contest.
The contests were conducted in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central Activity Center.
Meanwhile, OCD Region 6 also conducted the 2023 DRRM Expo, which showcased the response capabilities of selected local DRRM offices as well as the uniformed agencies and volunteer and private groups in Negros Occidental.
The said expo was opened to the public on July 1 and was graced by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
During this event, OCD-6 also turned over two sets of chainsaw equipment to the 53rd Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army, which will be used to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response.
For his part, Lacson said the Province of Negros Occidental is committed to keeping abreast of and adhering to science-based systems, tools, and opportunities to address disaster risk reduction effectively and to protect and minimize the risk to responders.
“I urge every Negrense to actively participate in disaster preparedness. Know for yourself and your families the important safety procedures, and create methods of communication and emergency preparations for your community, so together we can create a resilient Negros Occidental that can survive the unwelcome disasters that come our way,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, OCD 6 officer-in-charge and RDRRMC-6 chairperson Ma. Aletha A. Nogra expressed her gratitude to all the stakeholders in the region for their support and collaboration toward building a safer, more adaptive, and more resilient future for the Western Visayas. (PIA6)/PN
