MINALIN, Pampanga-International organization Save the Children recently conducted a three-day capacity building training on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) for 50 officials and community members belonging to at-risk barangays in Minalin town.
“The activity was meant to orient attendees on climate change and global warming, hazards affecting Central Luzon, how to cope the impact of hazards, getting to know vulnerable population groups in the communities, what can be done at the community level to mitigate and cope with the impact of disasters, identifying strategic activities to build resilience of families and communities to disasters and climate change, and preparedness planning at the family level,” Save the Children communications officer for emergencies Jerome Balinton said.
Participants came from Sta. Rita, Sta. Catalina, San Pedro and San Francisco I- the four identified villages that are prone to severe flooding which is the main environmental hazard in Minalin.
“Apart from this, the training was meant to be a tool for those who took part to train and form a group in their respective barangays that can lead the community in times of emergencies,” Balinton added.
“Building the capacity of local officials and community on DRRM is one key element in saving lives because they are the people directly making decisions and implementing the DRRM activities,” Save the Children in the Philippines Country Director Ned Olney stressed.
“Aside from building the capacity of children through our school-based DRRM efforts, we also aim at building the capacity of the barangay officials, of every family on how to manage and respond to hazards and emergencies. Our precious children are the most vulnerable in any disaster, and the tremendous impact of such could leave severe consequences. We don’t want this happen, and this is the core reason why we are building the capacity of our local partners,” Olney pointed out. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)
