Tacurong City observes National Disaster Consciousness Month

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Monday 2nd of July 2012

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat, July 2 (PIA) -- The Tacurong City government joins the country today in the launching of the National Disaster Consciousness Month.

Executive Order 137 of 1999 declares July as the declared National Disaster Consciousness Month to increase Filipinos’ awareness on natural and man-made disasters.

Tacurong City has recently strengthened its efforts regarding disaster prevention and mitigation by conducting information and education campaigns, especially in disaster-prone communities.

One of the most recent activities was a two-day roll-out training on barangay disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation, where 132 barangay officials and school administrators participated.

According to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Alberto P. Sero Jr., government also devised other mechanisms to increase awareness.

“We can now use the internet to prepare against disasters. DOST and PAGASA recently launched Project NOAH which allows us to view weather situations anywhere in the country,” Sero said.

Project NOAH or Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (noah.dost.gov.ph) allows one to view live satellite images of cities and towns including flood maps, status of weather stations, stream and rain gauges, and rain probability through different Doppler stations.

At the ceremony this morning, Mayor Lina Montilla emphasized that Tacurong continues to strive for higher excellence in disaster risk reduction and management.

DILG-12 had already endorsed the city to receive the Seal of Good Housekeeping for disaster preparedness.

To add, the Tacurong City Responsive Assistance and Coordinated Emergency Search and Rescue had been selected as among the contenders for Gawad Kalasag 2012-Government Emergency Response Management-Basic Search and Rescue Category.

“We have to continue with the good efforts that we have started. Let us prove that we deserve the award accorded to us,” Montilla said.

The ceremony also included a prayer for calamity victims and releasing of balloons symbolizing four key areas of DRRM: disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and recovery.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office had already lined up activities for the month-long celebration. (DED-PIA 12/ Jezereel Billano - LGU-Tacurong City-Information)