This is the third year of Disaster Resilience Forum organized by Cebuana Lhuillier, its an annual forum all about disaster management, risk reduction and post-disaster rehabilitation. It gathers all private, government and industry expert to talk about that disaster preparedness and how to resilience.
Every year, the Philippines always encounter the biggest problem – natural disaster. Our life was changed when we got struck by a powerful earthquake, a raging volcano, powerful typhoons, destruction of fire, flash flood and many more. In every disaster, we always learn the right way to respond and recover and also learning from the other – which is the bad way if ever we didn’t do anything.
2018 READY. The forum that bring together all community to work and collaborate during and after the disaster. We are not aware that many private companies are now prepared to act and in collaboration with local communities who are at risk if ever disaster hits them. I’m also surprised that a small island community located in Gigantes Island, they are much prepared whenever disaster comes, they are a small community that is hard to reach, but they learn how to be resilient and be a sustainable small island community. They create hazard maps and also how the community will respond when disaster is present.
Armed Forces of the Philippines. I learned that the AFP is not just built for our defense and protection, they are also resilient, they are equipped with the best materials, tools and equipment, they have trained men who are capable for search and rescue, they can fix and restore communication to affected communities, they work closely with international group, organization and as well with foreign military.
PDRF is here to bring everyone to work together, they collaborate with private companies for the response and recovery of every local community. On each private company they provide whatever they specialize on supply or service. They also introduced PDRF Clark Operation Center – a drop off of relief goods for Manila if ever disaster stuck the big city. The operation center is surrounded by airport and seaport, and this will help them transport relief good anywhere around the country because they got access to air, land and sea with the help of private companies that will provide different services- depending on what the company’s business. For example – a food company will donate food, a beverage company will donate water, an airline will provide free air cargo, medicine company will donate medicine and medical goods as relief goods for disaster stricken community.
Aboitiz Group’s Weather Philippines is providing us weather report with the use of their independent weather equipment, these weather stations are installed around on each island to monitor local weather and also give an accurate forecast. Weather Philippines are now conducting training to local community , they call it the CBDRRM training. The training is about making hazard maps around the town and also teaches the local community to learn enterprise development for them to recovery after a disaster.
Rappler shared to us that their Project AGOS is helping the community to locate the worst flooded areas around the city, with the help of crowd source content shared by people in social media.
Red Cross of the Philippines are calling for more volunteers and don't be worry, all their volunteers are covered by insurance, to join just go click http://redcross.ph/volnteer.
Yes Pinoy Foundation Inc was created by actor Dingdong Dantes, its a foundation to help in bridging education resource gap of children of fallen solder and out of school youth. Its program then evolved to focus on the Youth, Empowerment and Service in the country. One of the project is the I Am Super, a campaign aimed to better equip the nation for disaster resilience and to help out young people that are affected by all types of disaster, whether natural or man-brought. They have a donation drive online that you can help provide more go-bags on each student in a small community.
Yes Pinoy Foundation Inc was created by actor Dingdong Dantes, its a foundation to help in bridging education resource gap of children of fallen solder and out of school youth. Its program then evolved to focus on the Youth, Empowerment and Service in the country. One of the project is the I Am Super, a campaign aimed to better equip the nation for disaster resilience and to help out young people that are affected by all types of disaster, whether natural or man-brought. They have a donation drive online that you can help provide more go-bags on each student in a small community.
One of the most interesting topic at the forum is the segment of Net PSR and Balik Kalipay: a Center for Psychosocial Response Inc. Because of their research and also experience after Yolanda, they saw that there's effectiveness when a family is under psycho education program in a disaster prone community. Mental health now is a big issue and we have a newly signed law about the Mental Health Act and with the ongoing program,families that are in trauma can recover and go back to their normal mental state.
MICRO INSURANCE. Cebuana Lhuillier also shared that they have a micro insurance that can cover accidental death or dismemberment and disability, unprovoked murder and assault, and other causes of death (suicide is not included), as well as cash assistance in case fire hits their home. You can apply one for PHP40 and that covers one coverage valid for four months, and with a maximum of 5 Confirmation of Coverage.
OURHELP.ORG Cebuana Lhuillier launched a website where people can do cash donation while online and also they can select and pick any members of the local community who are in need of help for their recovery after a disaster. Clicking a button via the website: www.ourhelp.org You can help raise fund for the affected family to get the insurance of PHP20,000 for coverage for accidental death, dismemberment and disablement, or get them a PHP5,000 coverage for murder and unprovoked assault, PHP 5,000 for fire cash assistance, PHP 5,000 coverage in microlife. Cebuana Lhuillier helped a lot of Filipinos during their National Pilipino Protektado Day, a total of 1 million Filipino are targeted to get insured and with you and our help, the PHP 53 or 1USD donation can help a family be covered with insurance.
Resilience begins with me and at home. Now you learned that our local community, big companies and the government are now working together to make sure that we can avoid death tolls and also manage to recover quickly when the big one strikes. But at home –we should be prepared too, we should make a go-bag filled with water bottles, medicine kit, flashlight, jackets, can goods, swiss knife and any emergency and survival kit. So that when the big one comes, we can grab the go-bag right away and escape to safety with our family. Also acquiring insurance is a must, so that everyone are protected with the coverage and also the home which is our main safe zone is covered as well.
But in order to be prepared, make sure first that you know the contact number of your local fire station, emergency hotline and also baranggay office.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TIPS -- Do's and Don'ts
1. Never assume and underestimate the extent of disaster (ex. flood will not reach the 2nd floor, the fire is too far away from my house, typhoon is only signal no. 2)
2. Dont get carried away by the rumors and or do not spread rumors. Only rely on verified information from legitimate sources.
3. Obey orders from the authorities and government
4. When disaster strikes, dont panic. Stay calm.
5. Stay focuse to keep your senses alert and functioning
6. Before helping someone, make sure that you yourself is safe and capable to do so
7. Lives and safety should be prioritized above anything else. Dont worry about material possessions which can be replaced, however, valuable they may be.
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