DISASTER RESILIENCE MONTH. A motorcade along Iloilo City’s major thoroughfare marks the start of the National Disaster Resilience Month celebration in Western Visayas on Monday (July 1, 2019). Civil Defense Regional Director for Western Visayas Jose Roberto Nuñez underscored the significance of having resilient communities, especially in schools, with the onset of rainy season, when flooding occurs. (PNA photo by Ian Paul Cordero)
ILOILO CITY – The celebration of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) here kicked off on Monday amidst rains that started pouring Sunday night, spawned by the southwest monsoon or “habagat”.
The month-long activity started with a motorcade in the city’s major thoroughfares and ended with a short program at the new grandstand along Muelle Loney Street here.
“This is part of awareness (campaign). The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) is giving them (local government units) the challenge if what disaster preparedness really means,” said Jose Roberto Nuñez, Civil Defense Regional Director for Western Visayas, in an interview.
He underscored the significance of having a resilient community, especially in schools as classes have opened.
“We have priority activities, such as trainings. They just have to inform or request from our office,” he said.
Nuñez also advised LGUs to prepare and determine the needs of their barangays identified as prone to flood and landslide.
“Jot down everything so we will know what to do and if it is necessary to give them projects,” he said.
The official likewise urged the public to join the series of activities lined up for the NDRM observance, among them the Bike for Resilience that will be held in Guimaras on Sunday, July 7.
Meanwhile, due to inclement weather, several local government units in Iloilo declared the suspension of classes on Monday.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas declared the suspension of classes for elementary and secondary levels, both in public and private schools, for the safety of the pupils.
Other Iloilo LGUs that suspended classes were Alimodian, Leon, Leganes, Pavia, San Joaquin, Miagao, Sta. Barbara, Lambunao and Zarraga. (PNA)
