Bacolod marks Disaster Resilience Month

THE City of Bacolod, through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), kicked off the 2019 National Disaster Resilience Month, with a motorcade around major streets in the city starting from the Bacolod City Government Center grounds on July 8, 2019.

This year’s theme, “Kahandaan sa Sakuna at Peligro Para sa Tunay na Pagbabago,” highlights the shift from disaster- awareness building to disaster-resilience.

The motorcade was participated by the DRRMO, Bacolod City Police Office, Bacolod City Fire Station, Coast Guard Station-Bacolod City, 303rd Brigade Philippine Army, City Health Office, Department of Social Services and Development, CENECO, Philippine Red Cross, Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade, Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade, Adventist Emergency Response Unit, Barangay Sum-ag Rescue Unit, Barangay Singcang-Airport Rescue Unit, Barangay Handumanan Rescue Unit, Barangay Villamonte Lifesaver Rescue, CROPER, Barangay Mansilingan, Kabalikat Civicom 500 Metro Bacolod Chapter, Mountain Tigers Rescue Group, Philippine Air Force-Reserve, and Bacolod Seagulls Rescue Unit.

The motorcade passed through Circumferential Road to Burgos St. to Lopez Jaena St. to BS Aquino Drive to Lacson St. to Lizares St. to Araneta St. to Gonzaga St. to Gatuslao St. to Rizal St. and stopped at SM City.

A program was held at the Bacolod City Government Center before the parade, where various volunteer organizations received certificates of appreciation from Bacolod City DRRM Council, chaired by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

It states, “Thank you for putting together your resources of manpower, time and equipment for others to be well, cured and safe; for your unselfish commitment and partnership to community service; for making fellow volunteers your ally and friend; and for making a world of difference in what you have accomplished.”

At the program, 40 new completers of the Basic Incident Command System (BICS) conducted by the Office of Civil Defense – Region VI recently, who came from various barangay volunteer organizations, were also presented before city officials, namely, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and Councilors Simple Distrito, Archie Baribar, Israel Salanga, and Bart Orola.

CDRRMO officer-in-charge Dondon Parandas, in a message, emphasized the importance of being prepared during disasters. Executive Assistant Jose Ma. Vargas encouraged everyone to actively participate in all disaster preparedness activities like trainings, orientations and simulation exercises.

July of every year has been declared National Disaster Resilience Month. Formerly called National Disaster Consciousness Month, the celebration was renamed to NDRM through an Executive Order No. 29 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on June 28, 2017. (DRRMO)