Iloilo City to showcase disaster preparedness
This city is showcasing disaster preparedness as Ilonggos highlight unity and cooperation to rise from the devastation of Typhoon Frank that struck the metropolis a year ago.
The city government is hosting a week-long commemoration activities dubbed “Surviving and Prevailing Over Typhoon Frank” which kicks off with a launching program and opening of exhibits at SM City here June 15 at 3 p.m.
“We are commemorating the heroism of the Ilonggos with the efforts to rise fast from the tragedy. We take pride with the cooperation of the residents who strive to overcome such magnitude of destruction,” Mayor Jerry P. Treñas stressed.
“We are celebrating the Ilonggo bayanihan spirit on rehabilitation with lots of initiatives of the whole community as we work hand-in-hand for the rapid recovery of the city. We also acknowledge the help from our partners and donors here and abroad,” he said.
City Tourism Office (CTO) chief Ben Jimena said the commemoration allows the city to showcase how it was able to survive the catastrophe and succeed in bringing people’s lives back to normal.
The celebration is composed of photo exhibition at malls showing photographs during and after the tragic floods including the rehabilitation efforts; essay writing and quiz bee contests about typhoon Frank and calamity preparedness at SM City on June 18; and an interschool oratorical contest on mitigating the effects of environmental threats.
A commemorative program will be conducted at the Jaro Plaza June 21 where various agencies will launch their projects on environmental and emergency concerns.
The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) will make public their Project 143; the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) will introduce initiatives for the Maasin watershed and the Photographic Society of Iloilo (PSI) will collaborate with the Philippine Coast Guard for the Iloilo River cleanup.
Jimena explained that Project 143 is the Red Cross way of imbibing the spirit of volunteerism where residents will be trained to respond fast to crisis situations, carry out first aid tasks and save lives.
The PNRC will conduct capacity-building trainings for villages to empower responsible barangay folks in handling emergency cases.
The PNRC will also spearhead the holding of orientation for rapid emergency responses. Emergency drills maybe organized for establishments upon request.
The city’s Crisis Management Office will conduct a rescue demonstration at the Salog River between the Montinola Bridge at Barangay Simon Ledesma and Jaro Bridge at Barangay Tabuc Suba. (PNA)