Schools told: Improve on disaster-preparedness
CITY-WIDE EARTHQUAKE DRILL
SCHOOLS in Dagupan, a city considered a model in disaster-preparedness and management, still need to improve in their readiness to handle calamities.
This was the consensus of an Evaluators’ Forum held after conducting earthquake drills on July 18 in public and private elementary and secondary schools as part of Disaster Safety Day and in commemoration of the July 1990 earthquake that struck the city.
The forum was participated in by 158 representatives from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) and volunteer groups, including DeltaCom, PRIMO, Kabalikat, Spectrum LDS Seagull, PANDA, and the Philippine Navy
Weaknesses in the system as well as human resource skills were noted in addition to lack of evacuation and route plans, directional signages, first aid kits and accessible emergency directories.
Some teachers were also observed to have panicked, mishandled some ‘victims’, or were indifferent to the activity.
Mayor Benjamin S. Lim acknowledged the results of the evaluation as he vowed to pursue improvements in the schools’ disaster-preparedness.
“Marami pa tayong dapat i-improve. Importante, leadership ng paaralan, proper training and ‘yong direction na dapat nilang sundan. Hindi ito matatapos sa isang session, kailangan inuulit-ulit ito hanggang sa maging second nature na,” Lim said.
Schools Division Superintendent Alma Ruby Torio described the drills as “very successful” and stressed that disaster management is a vital issue that requires “serious, hard and real work”. (PIA-Pangasinan)
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