UNITY CARAVAN HIGHLIGHTS OBSERVANCE OF DISASTER CONSCIOUSNESS MONTH

LEGAZPI CITY — The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) in Bicol, formerly known the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), has slated Monday (July 5) A Unity Caravan along Albay’s major highways to popularize the observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month this July.

In a conference held today at Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol regional office here, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) chief Cedric Daep, relaying the proposal of Albay Governor and Provincial DRRMC Chair Joey Salceda, averred the Unity Caravan will showcase manpower and resources of the different government agencies to manifest the government and its partner private organizations’ preparedness and ability to respond in time of emergencies, disasters, and the likes.

Daep said that every individual should be well-informed, empowered and must involved himself or herself efforts to prepare oneself and the community in times of calamities, stressing measures to carry out preemptive evacuation to achieve a “zero casualty” and mitigate the negative implications of disasters to properties, among others.

Regional Director Bernardo Alejandro of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol has announced the caravan will traverse the province’s towns and cities along major highways from the first, second, and third districts of Albay.

Alejandro said the Unity Caravan will commence around 9:00 am at the Bicol University grounds, and then proceed to Tabaco City, then through Sabluyon road to Ligao City, and going back to BU grounds.

The caravan will leave BU grounds here with contingents of regional and provincial disaster managers, converge with local disaster managers upon reaching Tabaco City as well as Ligao City and the same will join the group going back to the university grounds for a brief launching program.

OCD Bicol, along with contingents from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) including the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, , Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and other member-agencies of the RDRRMC will take the lead on the caravan.

Local government units from different towns and cities, through their respective local disaster preparedness and response teams, are also expected to join the event.

This year’s National Disaster Consciousness Month evolves on the theme “Pag Alerto, Malayo sa Peligro”.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) has since July 1 airing updates, advisories, discussions, plugs through the Ugnayan sa Bicol radio program on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures in contribution to the consolidated efforts of the RDRRMC to inform and educate the people on the implications of disasters and how to respond to them.

For the month-long observance the NDCM, RDRRMC has lined-up several information and advocacy drive on disaster awareness, preparedness and response in hospitals, schools, business establishments, government offices, among others, across the region.

Local disaster managers in the provinces, cities and towns in Bicol are also expected to follow suit. (MALoterte, PIA V)