Save Life, Prepare Early

Every month of July, we are celebrating the National Resilience Month with the

theme “Kahandaan sa Sakuna’t Peligro’t Para sa Tunay na

Pagbabago”(Preparedness towards risk and calamity to attain genuine change).The

main goal of this celebration is to dwindle the casualties, direct disaster economic loss

and damage to infrastructures through developing community resilient.

In view of the fact that the geographical and geological location of our country

which lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the so-called typhoon belt, we are vulnerable

to inevitable natural hazards as well as human-induced hazards. Loss of lives,

livelihoods, economic, social, cultural, physical and environmental assets of persons

and businesses increases in number due to this phenomenons.

In 1989, a report from WHO (World Health Organizations) regardless of

Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Management Approach shows that the

participation of the populace and all the sectors of the society is very important to

attain genuine change. This proves that the succor in dwindling the effect of disasters

is in my hand, in your hand, and in everyone’s hand.

Recently, in September 17, 2018 according to Rappler a deadly landslide hits the

entire province of Benguet which caused a total of 94 people confirmed as dead. The

landslide was caused by irresponsible small scale mining. The same through

happened in Natonin, Mountain Province as reported by James Agustin in November

4, 2018, a multiple-storey government building under construction was buried in a

landslide when typhoon Rosita hit the province.

According to Nakagawa (2009), the populace do not want to prepare because

they perceived that the disaster would not cause much damage. But is it right?
 Considering all this informations, have you ever inquire yourself why are we

suffering from this havocs?, what is really happening?, what really are we doing?,

what is our contribution in worsening this catastrophes?, and what can we do to evade

from this?

We need to be awakened on the deteriorating ecological situation around us

because we cannot hope to preserve and be prepared on what we do not understand.

We need to be conscious and be prepared to all serious detriments to come, our

knowledge is the essential tool we can contribute to the effort.

As a student, as one of the future community builder, we are obliged to participate

in every hazard drill, trainings on basic life support, seminars, workshops as well as

promoting and participating in the activities for environment protection such as clean

up drives and Oplan Bawas Basura. We can also collaborate with other advocates of

solid waste management like “My Shelter Foundation” which uses plastic bottles as

main materials in building cost-effective and spacious classrooms.

And as an individual, as a community member, we can show simple ways in

solving the problems on climate change. We can practice the waste hierarchy namely

5R’s, Reduce the amount of waste in the environment, reuse the materials that has

already served its purpose, recycle all the discarded materials, recover energy from

wastes and repair the things that are slightly broken. Let us start it with in ourselves,

we can reduce wastes by not buying unnecessary things. When we practice it at

home, the community itself will reflect.

Instead of using plastic and paper bags that use a lot of energy for its production,

have you ever think of using eco-bags? “Eco bags for shopping”! Have you ever think

of this idea? It is not only durable but also eco-friendly.

 Every member of the family should participate in all the programs of the Municipal

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, evacuation and community drills

as well as basic life support trainings. We need to be prepared with our vital response

items (GO-Bag) which compose of drinking water, foods that are ready-to-eat,

phones, extra batteries, flashlights, medicines, portable radios, whistle and all other

materials that are easily accessible and in proper working condition to be utilized for

survival when the big one strike . Each member of the family should bare in mind the

emergency hot lines in our municipality including the Red Cross, Rural health Unit.

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Philippine National

Police and other concerned offices. We should also know where the evacuation area

is.

We should be knowledgeable and skillful in recycling any discarded materials in

our house. For example, plastic bottles can be adjoin to come with a floating raft on

which we could used in replace of boats during floods.

A good preparation saves life. So, we should be prepared, all equipped with

knowledge, skills and resources to combat either natural or human induce hazards.

The capacities have to be utilized for fully appraising the populace response to

disasters.

DHEZYRINE B. GANDALERA
Ili National High Shool
Northern Conner District
Division Of Apayao