Handbook for survival

With climate change an official reality, creating a culture of preparedness now ranks among the top
priorities of any nation, big or small. And the provincial goverment of Isabela has joined the bandwagon
as it partnered with DepEd in the inclusion of disaster preparedness in all elementary and secondary
schools in the province – a vital part of perfecting the province’s handbook for survival .
The partnership came about as a response of the province to RA 10121, an act strengthening the
Philippine Risk Reduction and Management System, which upholds the people’s constitutional rights to
life and property by addressing the root causes of vulnerabilities to disasters.
Recognizing the role of education in building the resilience of local communities to disasters including
climate change impacts, the provincial government partnered with DepEd through the integration of 15-
minute lessons on disaster preparedness.
In September, the province conducted two waves of Educators Summit on Disaster Risk Reduction
Management-Climate Change Adaptation (DRRM-CCA) to equip teachers the art of teaching the science of
disasters and the means on how to build safer, adaptive and disaster-resilient schools. Today, the 15-minute
lesson is integrated in Science classes and instructional materials have been distributed to fuel the
integration in basic education. A proof of the commitment of DepEd and the provincial government of
Isabela in making all schools safe haven for children.
However, creating a culture of preparedness does not only rest on the provincial government nor on
DepEd alone; it is the duty of every Isabelino and we are all called to take part in this common goal.
While the two partner-agencies fuel the preparation of the child on impending disasters in school,
such culture needs to be integrated in the early education of the child at home. With the impact of parents
to child’s development, they can surely make such culture a part of his system.
Take it from Japan experience where parents train their kids as early as five on the impending disasters
brought about by nature’s fury. The figure during the March 11 (“3/11”) earthquake and tsunami disaster in
2011 could have been doubled were it not for the preparation of the Japanese.
But their preparation does not stop at home, it continued in schools and it was strengthened by the
community. This makes Japan resilient to any disasters today, and this is the kind of culture DepEd
and the Isabela government advocate.
With the province being the favorite destination of typhoons, we cannot afford to be
complacent.Preparation remains our best formula to shield the province from impending disasters.
The provincial government and DepEd-Isabela have already outlined the province’s handbook for
survival, and it only takes community effort to make it work. Otherwise, we will all be caught flat-footed
when the next “Yolanda” pummel us unprepared.
(Clifton Gene B. Daquioag/ Champion, DSPC)The Excelsior)