FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

The author is Teacher Pam panga

CAROL V. ALMACEN

The Department of Education (DepEd) believes that disaster preparedness should be anchored on family preparedness, not just individual readiness.

The department, in its continuing efforts to ensure safety and readiness of learners and teachers, wants families to engage and prepare with their communities in case of disasters.

The DepEd has issued DO 27, s. 2015 promoting family earthquake preparedness through school activities, involving (a) learners answering a series of questions highlighting family preparedness in the form of a homework to be done with their families; (b) all advisory teachers are expected to discuss the results and cull out the learnings appropriate for their respective communities; and (c) principals are required to discuss the summary of their findings with the parents-teachers associations and barangay officials for consideration in the school and community preparedness planning.

DO 27, s. 2015 supports previous DepEd orders on school-based preparedness measures such as the conduct of drills, identification of risks, among others.

According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Director Renato Solidum, Jr., it is important to use one’s imagination in disaster preparedness. He said there is a need to imagine different hazards and what can happen. In a school or classroom building, everyone involved should need to imagine the environment after an earthquake.

Meanwhile, there is also a need to share best practices among schools to further strengthen each institution’s programs for school safety.

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III at San Basilio Elementary School, Sta. Rita District,