THE CITY Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) will conduct a simultaneous disaster preparedness exercise at the Matina River and Talomo River on July 29 as part of National Disaster Resilience Month.
Erlianne Marie Martinez, CDRRMO Training Section chief, said over 500 people are expected to join the drill to test the readiness for disaster response mechanisms of the barangays surrounding both rivers.
“Ang objective po ani is to capacitate, especially ang barangay-level na disaster response, para ma-determine kung well-equipped na ba sila … ug dili na kinahanglan pa, as much as possible, mag-source out from other areas. Kung makaya gyud, sila mismo on the site and maka-react (The objective of this is to capacitate, especially the disaster response at barangay-level, in order to determine if they are well-equipped … and if, as much as possible, they will no longer have to source out from other areas),” she said during an I-speak media forum on Thursday.
An emergency evacuation scenario will be simulated during the drill, including emergency medical aid, search and rescue, and other first responder activities.
Barangay disaster response teams Barangays Talomo Proper, Matina Pangi, Matina Aplaya and Matina Crossing residents will participate in the drill.
Barangays in high-risk areas already have the equipment for disaster response. Many communities, she added, were able to test their abilities in utilizing this equipment during the First Responder Obstacle Course held at the Davao Crocodile Park on July 19 to 21.
