THE RELEVANCE AND CRITICAL ROLES OF THE SDRRM

Ariel C. Guzman

A safe school plans well and prepares relentlessly. A learning environment should always advocate for what is best for the learners. As an institution for learning, it should aim progressively to foster the needs and security of every stakeholder. For this reason, the School Disaster Risk Reduction Management (SDRRM) must be a platform that maximizes the performance of its duties and responsibilities and goes beyond its expectation as an entity-body.

The SDRMM functions in identifying, assessing, and managing the hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks that may occur in the domain it exists. In the past months, typhoons and earthquakes have been causing fears to many folks, especially the parents whose children are adjusting to the beginning of the new school year. It also identifies and implements cost-effective risk reduction measures and strategies that are collaboratively possible with other branches like the Administrative Office, Guidance Office, and Clinic. Moreover, it should strive to disseminate information and raise public awareness about the hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks with great intentionality, urgency, and efficiency.

Those are the essential responsibilities of the SDRMM. Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has been shifting from high risk to becoming commonplace, the SDRMM must not be complacent but learn to think ahead of the many possibilities that the opening of classes and normalization of daily activities before the New Normal might bring. The pursuit of “No students left behind” must assure that no students shall be defenseless by COVID19. The schools in Angeles City should take inspiration from the success stories of positive planning and efficient governance of schools nationwide. It will always begin with recognizing what are the problems and accepting accountability to solve them as soon as possible. It should mobilize its people spearheaded by SDRMM to provide what is deserved by the next generation.

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The author is Teacher 1 at Gov. Rafael L. Lazatin Integrated School Sameera, Sapalibutad, Angeles City

Cluster 8