Civil Defense Office 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) -- In observance with the National Disaster Consciousness Month celebration, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) – Southern Leyte led the series of disaster risk reduction drills and fora in the province.

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

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

Tan reported that since June 29 they were able to facilitate simultaneous earthquake drills in Saint Joseph College Elementary School in coordination with the Maasin City Schools Division and in San Roque Elementary Pilot School in Macrohon, Southern Leyte with the Southern Leyte Schools Division; a fire drill was also conducted in the latter school. as well.

Other activities included the conduct of contingency planning in the two barangays in Silago, which are prone to flashfloods and facilitated the earthquake and fire drills at Metro Hiper-Gaisano in Maasin City, she said.

On July 20, 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, lectures on first –aid lessons, she added.

She said they will be going to the municipalities of Limawasa, Hinundayan, and Sogod to give orientations on contingency planning.(PIA8, SoLeyte)