By Niño Manaog
Extension Associate
Capiz State University
On Sept. 24–27, 2013, some 90 participants joined the National Seminar Workshop on Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management at the Tanay EPIC PARC Rainforest Camp in Brgy. Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal.
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| KEY OFFICIALS (from left to right) Tanay Mayor Rafael Tanjuatco, PASSAGE President Aladino Leccio and DRRM IV-A Chair Vicente Tomazar. |
LGUs, SUCs participate
Sponsored by the Philippine Association of Agri-vironment Educators and Entrepreneurs, Inc. (PASSAGE) headed by President Aladino L. Leccio (right photo, center), vice-president for administration and finance of the Capiz State University (CapSU), the national training workshop gathered participants representing eight state universities and colleges (SUCs); three local government units (LGUs) of the province of Rizal; five elementary schools and six barangay LGUs of Tanay, Rizal; three local government agencies; and two private local entities, both of Cainta, Rizal. The training was done in cooperation with the local government of Tanay led by Mayor Rafael Tanjuatco (right photo, first from left) and the University of the Rizal System headed by Dr. Marita Canapi.
The eight SUCs were Batanes State College (BSC), Bukidnon State University (BSU), Capiz State University (CapSU), Cebu Technological University, Mindoro State College of Arts and Trades, Rizal Technological University, University of Rizal System and the West Visayas State University. Of these SUCs, CapSU had the most number of delegates (17), while BSU and BSC represented the farthest delegations.
Participants from government agencies came from the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine National Police, both of Pililla; and Department of Education (DepEd) in Tanay; while the two religious institutions included the Asia Pacific Christian College & Seminary and Our Lady of Light Parish both based in Cainta, Rizal.
Meanwhile, the DepEd district of Tanay was represented by teachers and officials of Balimbing Elementary School in Brgy. Plaza Aldea; Sampaloc Elementary School; Ilaya Elementary School in Brgy. Tandang Kutyo; Laiban Elementary School and Wawa Elementary School, all of Tanay, Rizal.
Aside from the LGUs of Antipolo, Rodriguez, and Taytay, all of Rizal, participants also came from the barangay LGUs of Tanay, Rizal, namely: Sampaloc, San Andres, Kay Buto, Laiban, Santa Inez, and Tabing Ilog.
Need for Training
In his welcome speech, Leccio stressed the urgent need for the members of the academe, the local government units (LGUs) and the civil society “to possess the knowledge and skills needed to help reduce and manage disaster risk.”
In particular, Leccio said that “teachers and extension workers in schools and universities can integrate these skills in the courses that they teach; while the LGUs directly in contact with the affected communities are mandated to provide assistance during times of calamities.”
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| Dr. Cely Binoya |
In three days, the participants were, among others, briefed on the concepts of DRRM and the participatory capacity and vulnerability analysis (PCVA), taught first-aid skills and given opportunities to map out their disaster management plans for their respective institutions.
Anchored on the theme “Ligtas na Bayan, Maunlad na Pamayanan,” the summit featured the expertise of Mr. Vicente Tomazar, chairperson of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRMC) Council of Region IV-A, who presented DRRM’s key concepts and the legal bases and its current state in the Philippines.
It also featured Dr. Cely Binoya (above photo), former president of PASSAGE, who shed light on the Community-based Disaster Management Approach; and Engr. Carlos Inofre, Jr., officer-in-charge of the Tanay’s DRRM section who led the workshop on PCVA.
Among others, participants were taught the tools in participatory learning and action including mapping, timeline, seasonal calendar and Venn diagram. Accordingly, they were grouped and given on-site residents to interview to produce sample disaster data.
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| Participants are taught here basic rescue skills. |
On the second day, officers and members of the Tanay Mountaineers, Inc. taught the participants basic rescue skills including bandaging, basic first-aid and triage. After which, the participants were grouped according to their organizations to plan out and map practicable plans for their respective institutions.
Lifelong Learning
A survey of the training workshop found that a big number of participants favored the hands-on approach for the basic first-aid skills and techniques.
Participants also found the skills training helpful, relevant and timely, even as it engaged their active participation.
Aside from lauding the “lively” resource persons whom they considered “excellent” and “experts,” participants also took note of the useful topics and the venue which is considered “conducive” and best for learning.
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| The CapSU delegation led by VP for Admin & Finance Aladino Leccio (standing, fourth from right) is given a warm welcome by the URS faculty counterparts at the Tanay Municipal Hall. |
