With PDRRMO,
PIA, PhiVolcs, PAGASA, PHO
By Niño Manaog
With reports from
Rector John Latoza,
Reno
Ocampo & Darril John Yasa
Roxas City—To
create public awareness on disaster risk reduction and management among members
of the Capiz State University (CapSU)
community, the CapSU Research, Development and
Extension (RDE) Center partnered with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Office and the Philippine
Information Agency (PIA) Capiz to host a Disaster Management Conference on Oct.
24, 2014 at the CapSU Central Office here.
Featuring
lectures by representatives from the Philippine Institute
of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs);
the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA); and the Capiz Provincial Health Office (PHO), the one-day seminar
gathered the participation of the CapSU campus
administrators, satellite college directors and their extension chairpersons
and coordinators.
In particular, Mr. Reynaldo Antioquia of the Department
of Science
and Technology-PHIVOLCS lectured on earthquake hazards; while Ms.
Imelda Ofalla, officer-in-charge, DOST-PAGASA, lectured on weather hazards; and
Mr. Ayr Altavas of the Capiz PHO shared information on health hazards.
Mr. Esperedion
Pelaez, action officer of the Capiz PDRRM Office, provided the participants trends
and updates on status of disaster risk reduction in the Province; while Ms. Jemin Guillermo, PIA 6 manager, lectured on climate
change adaptation measures.
For his part, Mr. Arnel Van Aleligay, CapSU’s
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
coordinator, shared to the group the Capiz experience during the
Super Typhoon Yolanda while Pelaez briefed the participants on the Incident
Command System (ICS). Pelaez likewise led the Formulation of the SDMP and the
establishment of the SDMC for the University.
Anchored
on the theme “A Safe Campus Is A Safe Home,” the conference sought to develop a
unified School Disaster Management Plan (SMDP) led by a proactive SDM
committee.
Acording
to Dr. Pedro Gavino, vice-president
for research and extension, there is a need to identify hazards in the school and formulate countermeasures and
actions for emergeny preparedness. Gavino added that there is the need to
“assess the capability level of every CapSU campus
and Satellite College in the eventuality of hazards and emergencies.”
For the
plenary session, CapSU identified its role in making Disaster Risk
Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation a priority. The participants were
likewise urged to build a culture of safe, adaptive and resilient community,
even as the institution is asked to strengthen the level of awareness and
preparedness and link with other stakeholders for intervention and extension.
The activity was
coordinated by CapSU RDE and Mr. Arnel Van Aleligay.
