THE ‘SAFE ZONE’: CREATING A SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING IN THE SCHOOL

REDENTOR D. BENGCO

8nder Dep(d 2rder , s. , the )our 7hematic $reas of Disaster RisN Reduction Management 3reYention and Mitigation, 3reparedness, Response, and RehaEilitation were included into Dep(d s safety procedures to guarantee the security and well Eeing of students, school Euildings, and its properties. 7o support the school head in ensuring the safety of the students during an emergency or unfortunate occurrence, teachers were appointed as DRRM coordinators in the schools. $s the school s DRRM coordinator, it is your responsiEility to Neep an eye on the physical state of the classrooms and other facilities to maNe sure that students and instructors liYes are not in danger. :hen structures might endanger liYes, the coordinator needs to alert the releYant agencies, such the 6chools DiYision 2ffice. ,n order to assist endure powerful typhoons, guy caEles may Ee installed within the Euilding liNe this. %ooNs and important educational papers, together with electronic gadgets liNe laptops, printers, 79s, and photocopiers, need to Ee moYed to a secure location. $dditionally, eYacuation routes and locations need to Ee made highly eYident so that eYeryone in the school and surrounding community is aware of them. 7he coordinator should also maNe sure that DRRM signage with clearly comprehensiEle instructions is displayed in prominent locations across the school. Drills must Ee carried out Eoth in adYance of and in reaction to disasters that are predicted. 7he coordinator is also in charge of preparing teachers and students for emergencies. Most significantly, the DRRM coordinator is in charge of coordinating and cooperating with the nearEy DRRM &ouncil and other partner groups. 7hus, close collaEoration is reTuired with the communications team memEers, which includes the 3arents 7eachers $ssociation 37$ president and the coordinator of information and computer technology ,&7 . ,n order to guarantee eYeryone s safety and to preYent delays in saYing the liYes of students and school staff, the DRRM coordinator must also collaEorate with the medical team. :hile it is not possiEle to completely preYent natural or man made catastrophes, there are steps that may Ee taNen to decrease their effects, such as preYention and mitigation. 7hus, regular school drills, the installation and restocNing of fire e[tinguishers, the updating of warning systems and signage, the training of teachers and the education of students to improYe disaster readiness, effectiYe coordination with the communication and medical teams, the reinforcement of predictions through ongoing planning, the creation of procedures and policies, and the assignment of roles and responsiEilities to each memEer of the school staff are Must a few e[amples.

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7he author is a Master 7eacher , in 3ulungEulu (lementary 6chool, DiYision of $ngeles &ity, 3ampanga.