Include in the curriculum "disaster preparedness" subject

Nature has been exposing the country’s vulnerability against the elements, as such we urge the Department of Education to include in the curriculum classes that will educate Filipinos on disaster preparedness.

We must not sit idly by as tragedy continue to cost us millions of pesos in property damage and lives of our countrymen. Whether our people are aware of it or not, climate change is upon us and we must do what we can to prevent or at least mitigate the effects of natural disasters.

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake shook Visayas and Mindanao Monday that left 30 dead and 52 more injured. In 2011, flash floods and landslides brought about by typhoons left thousands dead and cost millions of pesos in property damage.

It’s high time we address the issue of disaster preparedness. We must not allow the gains we have made to move the country forward be hampered by natural disasters. We already know our country is prone to typhoon flooding and earthquakes. It is not enough that we are aware of the facts; more importantly we must make steps to act based on what we already know.

Conduct regular barangay-based typhoon drills

We call on Local Government Units and other concerned agencies to include typhoon drills as part of their efforts in disaster preparedness.

As a means to strengthen disaster preparedness and educate our citizens on the necessity of evacuation operations and procedure during times of typhoons, LGUs and Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils should undertake typhoon drills on a regular basis.

Our schools and offices undertake earthquake drills regularly even if we have earthquakes perhaps once or twice a year, yet we do not have typhoon drills despite the fact that we have 20 typhoons hitting the country each year.

According to Local officials and rescue workers, when typhoons Pedring and Quiel hit, most homeowners refused to leave their property despite early warnings of flooding. This prompted a debate on whether the PNP and AFP should use forced evacuation procedures in such cases. Typhoon drills would address this concern as this will give the public the necessary information.

Disaster preparedness is the best way to ensure that lives are saved, and death and injuries brought down to a minimum. After visiting the disaster areas of Pampanga and Bulacan and conferring with local officials and our men from both the AFP and PNP, we see this drill as an effective way to educate and enlighten our citizens on the issue.