OCD SoLeyte leads disaster risk reduction drills, fora in the province

By Erna S. Gorne

Friday 20th of July 2012

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte July 20 (PIA) -- The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) – Southern Leyte led in the series of disaster risk reduction drills, and fora throughout the province in line with the National Disaster Consciousness Month celebration.

“The OCD provincial office zealously urged the local government units to support the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) in the prevention stage inorder to avoid the loss of lives and properties,” OCD Provincial Civil Defense Officer (PCDO) Marichu Tan said in an interview.

With the theme this year, “Ligtas na Bayan, Maunlad na Mamayanan,” OCD Southern Leyte undertakes a series of disaster-preparedness activities that will make the people aware and be prepared at all types of disasters, Tan said.

Tan reported that since June 29, they have facilitated simultaneous earthquake drills in Saint Joseph College Elementary School in coordination with the Maasin City Schools Division and San Roque Elementary Pilot School in Macrohon, Southern Leyte with the Southern Leyte Schools Division. Where the latter also includes for the fire drill, as well.

PCDO Tan was invited as the guest speaker in the municipality of San Francisco, who spearheaded the local celebration of the national disaster month celebration in July 2.

Other activities include the conduct of contingency planning in the two barangays in Silago, who are prone to flashfloods with the Silago waterway; earthquake and fire drills at Metro Hyper-Gaisano in Maasin City; and guesting during the Action Center Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency last July 11, she said.

Today, OCD is scheduled to conduct an orientation on DRRM to San Roque Elementary School teachers and schoolchildren together with the San Roque High School students in Macrohon, Southern Leyte. The orientation aims to organize control groups in mentioned campuses and lectures on first-aid lessons, she added.

She also said that the municipalities of Limawasa, Hinundayan and Sogod are requesting their assistance for contingency planning orientations.(PIA8 SoLeyte)