IN OBSERVANCE of National Disaster Resilience Month, The Office of the Civil Defense XI stressed the value of efficient management and preparedness during and after disasters.
Karlo Alexie Puerto, OCDDR-XI information officer, emphasized the importance of psychosocial support services and coping mechanisms, a response given during and after disasters.
He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Education have experts to help provide these services.
“Dili lang atoang physical safety ang focus sa atoang disaster response (We should not just focus on our physical safety during a disaster response), it should also include the overall well-being, particularly our mental health,” Puerto said.
Puerto also said the region’s local government units (LGU) are well-prepared for disaster response.
“We will evaluate the capabilities of how they (LGUs) plan certain disasters or contingency planning and response mechanisms,” Puerto added.
One of their activities for National Disaster Resilience Month is conducting emergency preparedness activities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, inviting experts from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and other local organizations. The activity will take place on July 28, 2023, at SM Lanang Premier.
However, despite the preparedness of the Davao region, Puerto urged the public to be vigilant, especially in areas prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons.
Following their objective in this month’s theme, “BIDANG Pilipino: Building a Stronger Filipino Well-being towards Disaster Resilience,” the agency prioritizes programs that effectively contribute toward its mission of creating a disaster-resilient country.
