Taguig barangay officials, volunteers undertake disaster preparedness training

ENGLISH VERSION:

The local government of Taguig has sent officials and volunteers from 15 barangays of the city to undergo a two-week extensive training on disaster preparedness in Bay, Laguna in an effort to boost community-based competencies against disasters and calamities.

“In Taguig, we believe that disaster preparedness at the barangay level should be achieved in order to effectively cushion the devastating effects of disasters and calamities. Our barangay officials and volunteers are practically the first responders in these events,” said Mayor Lani Cayetano.

Mayor Lani  noted that the training, which started last June 24 and will end on July 6, was sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Aid (AusAID) under the program “Building Resistance and Awareness of Metro Manila Communities to Natural Disaster and Climate Change Impacts” (BRACE).

“We express gratitude to AusAID in helping us strengthen our capacity to respond effectively to disasters. Rest assured that whatever assistance extended to us in our efforts to solidify our preparedness against disasters will be used to minimize loss of lives and property,” Mayor Lani said.

Ronald Galicia, head of Taguig City Rescue, said the primary objective of the exercise is to train trainors at the barangay level.

“Barangay officials and volunteers from the 15 barangays are undergoing a trainor’s training, so that when they return to their respective towns they will be able to train their constituencies on what they have learned,” Galicia said.

According to him,  there are currently  two trainor’s training being undertaken in Laguna as of the moment, namely : the Standard Disaster and Risk Reduction Management, and the Health Management, which includes first-aid training.

Taguig’s preparedness against disasters and calamities has been recognized by no less than the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) when it awarded the Seal of Disaster Preparedness to the city last year.

Taguig City was awarded by the DILG-NCR the Seal of Disaster Preparedness in acknowledgment of the local government unit’s enhanced efforts toward disaster preparedness and capabilities last December 2012.

In the training seminar being held in Laguna, Galicia said representatives from the DILG, Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and weather bureau PAG-ASA were also present.

He also disclosed that three barangay representatives from each of the 15 “vulnerable” Taguig barangays are attending the training.

“This will definitely bolster our efforts to prepare for disasters and calamities, especially now that the rainy season has set in and some areas in Taguig are critical for flooding,” Galicia said.

FILIPINO VERSION:

Ipinadala ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Taguig para sa dalawang linggong pagsasanay sa disaster preparedness ang mga opisyal at mga volunteer mula sa 15 barangay ng  Taguig sa Bay Laguna sa layuning maitaas ang kakayahan ng mga komunidad sa pagharap sa mga sakuna at mga kalamidad.

“Sa Taguig, naniniwala kaming dapat na handa ang mga barangay nang sa gayon ay hindi masyadong makapaminsala ang mga kalamidad. Ang mga opisyal ng barangay at mga volunteer ang pangkaraniwang nauuna sa pagresponde,” wika ni Mayor Lani Cayetano.

Inihayag ni Mayor Lani na ang pagsasanay na nag-umpisa noong June 24 at magtatapos sa July 6 ay itinaguyod ng Australian Agency for International Aid (AusAid) sa ilalim ng programang “Building Resistance and Awareness of Metro Manila Communities to Natural Disaster and Climate Change Impacts”(BRACE).

“Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa AusAID sa kanilang tulong na  mapalakas ang kakayahan namin na makatugon sa mga sakuna. Makaaasa kayo na anumang tulong na naipaabot sa aming hangaring mapaghandaan ang mga sakuna ay aming magagamit sa pagliligtas ng buhay at ari-arian,” pahayag pa ni Mayor Lani.

Sinabi naman ni Ronald Galicia, hepe ng Taguig Rescue na ang pangunahing layunin nito ay ang sanayin ang mga tagapagsanay ng barangay.

“Sumasailalim ang mga opisyal at volunteer mula sa 15 barangay sa trainor’s training nang sa gayon sa kanilang pagbabalik sa kanilang mga lugar ay maipapasa nila ang kanilang mga natutunan,” saad ni Galicia.

Sinabi nitong dalawang trainor’s training ang kasalukuyang ginagawa sa Laguna: ang Standard Disaster and Risk Reduction Management at ang Health Management, kabilang ang pagbibigay ng first aid.

Kinilala ng Department of Interior and Local Government-NCR (DILG-NCR) ang Taguig sa paghahanda nito sa sakuna, sa katunayan ay napagkalooban ang Taguig ng Seal of Disaster Preparedness noong nakalipas na taon.

Sinabi ni Galicia na kasama nila sa training/seminar ang mga kinatawan ng DILG, Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) at ang weather bureau PAGASA

Ibinunyag din nito na tatlong kinatawan mula sa 15 “vulnerable” na barangay sa Taguig ang dumadalo sa pagsasanay.

“Paniguradong lalakas ang ating paghahanda sa sakuna at mga kalamidad lalo ngayong nagsimula na ang tag-ulan at may mga bahaing lugar sa Taguig.