PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – The Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) teamed up recently with the Saint Columban College Elementary Department to instill disaster awareness among school children.
“It is very important for us to participate in an earthquake drill. It is very necessary for us to know simple or basic knowledge of how to deal with the situation,” said Roselle Cabatit, an elementary school teacher at SCC.
Around 498 students, teachers, and school personnel actively performeed the duck, cover, and hold procedures during the 4th Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on Thursday, November 9. Evacuation protocols were also carried out as students were led to the school’s quadrangle, which was designated as an assembly area.
During the event, retired colonel Ronnie Villanueva, officer in charge of the Zamboanga del Sur PDRRMO, provided valuable guidance on best practices in earthquake preparedness.
SCC principal Sol Conception Pamat expressed her profound appreciation and commended the dedication of the PDRRMO in ensuring that schools and institutions will have appropriate knowledge and increase readiness to handle unpredictable events.
“Your dedication and commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of students, teachers, and staff is truly admirable and inspiring. By organizing such drills, you have empowered us with the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to respond effectively in case of a real emergency,” she said.
Further, Yona Carlla Arroyo, a Grade 6 pupil, shared how the drill has provided her with significant knowledge in disaster preparedness.
This collaborative effort highlighted the importance of involving educational institutions in disaster preparedness, as schools play a pivotal role in safeguarding the well being of students and the community as a whole. (RVC/SBM/MBP-GIP/PIA Zamboanga del Sur)
