Pampanga trains 667 DRRM coordinators
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— The provincial government of Pampanga recently trained some 667 disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) coordinators in schools to ensure the safety of students in the province.
Vice-Governor Dennis Pineda, vice chair of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), gave certificates of completion and first aid kits to 116 coordinators in simple rites at a PDRRMC warehouse at the provincial engineer’s compound in Barangay Sindalan here on Monday. They belonged to the last batch of trainors.
“Kailangan nakahanda tayo sa ano mang kalamidad. Dapat hanggang sa ground level. Kaya kailangan namin ang tulong ninyo para maging ligtas ang lahat ng estudyante (We need to be ready for any kind of disaster. Our preparedness should be down to the ground level. That is why we need your help to make our students safe),” Vice-Governor Pineda told the DRRM coordinators.
The 116 coordinators, mostly teachers and administrators, work in private elementary and secondary schools in the province. At least 551 coordinators from public elementary and high schools earlier completed the DRRM training, PDRRMC action officer Angelina Blanco said.
“When a disaster strikes during class hours, teachers and DRRM coordinators are duty bound to put students to safety” Blanco said.
Leonardo Zapanta, Department of Education superintendent in Pampanga, thanked the vice governor and Governor Lilia Pineda for helping the agency make schools safe from disasters.
Blanco said the partner schools are expected to submit their DRRM plans.
Pampanga deals with hazards such as floods, storm surges, landslides and earthquakes.
The PDRRMC was adjudged the second best in the 18th Gawad Kalasag of the National DRRMC. The PDDRMC has also been inducted to the Regional DRRMC hall of Fame.
“I hope we can start earthquake drills in schools soon,” Vice-Governor Pineda said.