Seniors, PWDs join SM’s disaster resilience forum

Some 1,000 participants packed the SMX Convention Center’s Hall 3 to take part in the annual Disaster Resilience Conference for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and Senior Citizens in Pasay City recently.

The event was organized by SM Cares, a division of SM Foundation in partnership with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Its prime concern revolves around the elderly and the PWDs who are considered to be the most disadvantaged due to the limitations on mobility and awareness.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum refreshed the memories of senior citizens and talked about major earthquakes that rocked the country, such as the 7.7 magnitude 1990 Luzon earthquake, where an estimated 1,621 people perished.

Solidum explained the strengths and capabilities of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake to the country.

He reiterated the importance of building structures that adhere to the standard building code because it’s what he considers to be the main culprit of multiple casualties during a disaster.

“No country can ever be ready if the focus is on the response side. That is why it is important that at the local level, houses and buildings are strengthened,” he said.

Aldo Mayor of the MMDA focused on what to do during and before an earthquake.

He pointed out that once an earthquake is felt, it is best to stay low, protect one’s head and seek shelter under a table or something sturdy.

Once the shaking stops, he advised participants to evacuate immediately and search for open spaces.

International Disaster Reponse Network Ted Esguerra, a survival specialist, shared that during disasters, animals like rats and elephants, even us, would always have an instinct to run to the nearest safe place as soon as the ground shakes.

“People will always run. That, I cannot control,” he said.

What he did was to teach and demonstrate to the elderly and the PWDs the proper way of running and the things to avoid as soon as an earthquake strikes.

Chairman Violeta Decena, of Barangay 274 in Manila, said that she and her fellow barangay officials and some constituents only learned this from the program.