Council wants disaster readiness in GAD programs

CEBU, Philippines - To be prepared for calamities, the City Council has requested the Cebu City Women’s Commission to integrate disaster risk reduction in gender and development programs.

In a resolution authored by City Councilor Alvin Dizon, the council said women can be the “frontliners” in climate change adaptation and disaster resilience efforts.

The council said it has been proven that women have the ability to lead communities and that existing local mechanisms on women can be encouraged and maximized.

“The urgent need now is not only to design adaptation programs for women in food security, livelihoods, access to clean water and renewable energy, basic health and education opportunities and invest in gender sensitive green technologies, but more importantly, to empower women in disaster risk reduction efforts and mainstream their role in DRR as a crucial part of disaster prevention, relief and rehabilitation,” read the resolution.

Dizon said women take vital part in the development agenda for the protection of the environment.

Meanwhile, still in line with disaster preparedness, City Councilor and CCDRRMC Chief David Tumulak said they have been conducting information drives at the barangay level to ensure the residents are ready, especially that no one really knows when a calamity would strike.

He also also said that CCDRRMC is working closely with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration regarding emergency advisories.

“We intensified our information and education campaign sa tanang ka-barangayan.  Contingency planning pod sa schools, malls, and government offices atong gi-enforce,” he said.

Tumulak said that there is an ongoing information and education campaign at the barangay level until the end of the month.

“We are always alert kay the calamity will come any time, any day ang dapat lang gyud is naa tay gi-undertake nga preparations,” he said.  (FREEMAN)