MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Learning from past tragedies and disasters, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Lanao del Sur emphasized the significance of providing appropriate training to first responders.
PDRRMO Chief Shaminoden Sambitory underlined that apart from the learning gained from the training, participants also get to take part in the goal of safeguarding the community amidst disasters.
“Bukod doon sa nakuha nilang knowledge and skills on disaster response, talagang they become part of the disaster response of Lanao del Sur. Masaya tayo na makita na may karamay tayo kung may darating na sakuna dito sa Lanao del Sur,” he said.
[Aside from the knowledge and skills on disaster response that they acquired, they really became part of the disaster response of Lanao del Sur. We are happy to see that we have partners when calamities happen here in Lanao del Sur.]
As 223 responders graduated from the recently concluded Emergency Medical Technician and Emergency Response Training (EMT-ERT), Sambitory was delighted as he stressed that it has been a long time since they held a face-to-face training due to the restrictions brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic.
“We are very happy na narefresh natin ang knowledge and skills nila before. Masaya tayo na ngayon, mas naenhance pa ang capacity nila to respond [that we are able to refresh their knowledge and skills before. We are happy that now we are able to further enhance their capacity to respond],” he said.
Sambitory bared that several capacity-building activities were slated to be implemented next year.
He detailed that they also aim to bring some of the training down to the community level, maintaining that disaster preparedness is not just a duty of the government but of the whole populace as well.
“Mas maigi na lahat ng tao o constituents sa isang pamayanan or community ay mainvolve. If possible, pati community members icapacitate natin on preparedness kasi kung dumating ang sakuna, hindi naman ito mamimili. All the people in a community ay talagang affected,” said Sambitory.
[All people or constituents in a society or community should be involved. If possible, even the community members must be capacitated on preparedness because if disaster comes, they will not choose. All the people in a community will really be affected.] (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)