GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) XII gears up for the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) this July as it enjoins the general public to participate in its line-up of various activities that are also aligned with the guidelines for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Carrying the theme “Sambayanang Pilipino, Nagkakaisa Tungo sa Katatagan at Maunlad na Kinabukasan,” the NDRM observance will kick-off tomorrow, July 1 and will hold its closing ceremonies on July 29, according to OCD XII information officer Jorie Mae Balmediano.
She said the annual NDRM does not only aim to strengthen disaster preparedness but also solidify all Filipinos in the face of disaster.
In its memorandum to Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) XII members and local DRRM councils, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), says “The NDRM 2022 theme emphasizes the importance of collaboration of all Filipinos to overcome the challenges of this pandemic and prepare ourselves for new emerging disasters toward building a safer, adaptive and resilient future.”
Citing Executive Order No. 29 s. 2017 which designates the month of July, the start of rainy season in the Philippines as the NDRM throughout the country, NDRRMC reiterates the EO's marching order "for the conduct of activities relative to building of disaster resilience covering the four thematic areas: (1) Prevention and Mitigation, (2) Preparedness, (3) Response and (4) Rehabilitation and Recovery."
"Member agencies of the Regional and Local DRRM Councils, Barangay DRRM Committees, Private Institutions and Stakeholders are hereby enjoined to observe the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) 2022 through the conduct of activities relative to disaster resilience, and to participate and promote the NDRM activities," it said.
After the kick-off, Balmediano said there awaits "exciting, fun and educational" activities for this year’s observance for the students, youth and the general public to participate in, which include tagline writing contest, music composition contest, mobile photography contest, resilience video contest, resilience hours, among others.
The tagline and music composition contests, though, have already started earlier on June 13 and June 30, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Resilience Hours, a webinar series on DRRM thematic areas will be held on July 7, 14, 21, and 28 while the Resilience Webinar Series 3: Understanding DRRM Mechanisms in the Philippines is scheduled on July 28.
Both webinars, Balmediano told the Philippine Information Agency are intended for DRRM practitioners and the general public.
In addition to the activities, NDRM will also include a capacity exhibit dubbed "NDRRMC 2022 and Beyond" in the morning of July 15 to be followed by RDRRMC Full Council Meeting in the afternoon as she also asked governnment offices and DRRM councils to hang the NDRRM banners within their office premises in support of the observance.
Balmediano then encouraged people in Soccsksargen to get involved and join in the NDRM activities including the closing ceremonies as these can be easily accessed via online. (PIA XII)
