PWC strengthens Disaster Risk Reduction Management Campaign

PWC of Davao is taking measures to intensify the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Campaign in response to the earthquakes that struck Mindanao October this year.

Orientations have already been conducted last July, but the alarming magnitude and frequency of the recent earthquakes posed the need for safety measures to be reiterated.

The first leg of the orientations was conducted for the personnel. “This is so we do not rely on the Disaster Action Team (DAT) alone,” said DAT coordinator Paolo Naval, “as personnel, we have to be proactive in assisting the DAT as it is our responsibility to ensure the safety of our students.”

Orientation sessions were then conducted for elementary, junior high school, senior high school, and college units respectively as well as the Ciudades campus in the month of November. The students were also encouraged to share their acquired knowledge on disaster preparedness to their respective families as the habit of observing safety is best honed at home.

On November 18, 2019, DRRM consultant of Barangay Matina Crossing 74-A Prime V. Cruz led a comprehensive lecture on earthquake and flood preparedness for PWC personnel and tenants.

Disaster Action Team

On its end, PWC is updating its equipment and conducting consistent survey on structures with safety engineers. The school is also equipping its Disaster Action Team to ensure effective response and implementation of procedures. The DAT, now with 54 members, is undergoing training and meetings for evacuation area assembly, rescue and transportation, damage control, firefighting, information warning, and rescue and first aid.

An unannounced drill is also to be observed monthly, launched with the first drill last November 22. This allows the DAT to observe and evaluate the PWC community’s response and at the same time ingrain in them the proper procedure and evacuation areas.

PWC also intends to coordinate with the PTA and alumni to provide a whistle and hard hat for every student.

“We need to accept that earthquake is now a part of our reality,” Naval shared, “[with every tremor,] a lot of people are saying, ‘when are things going back to normal?’ I think this is now the new ‘normal’; what we can and must do is to learn to control the unavoidable panic, and instead use that to fuel preparedness.”

RCM