Students from eight schools in Calabanga competed Friday in “quiz bee” and art competitions to showcase awareness and knowledge in disaster reduction in public schools.
The inter-school competitions saw eight schools competing in quiz bee and art contests on the subject of the education sector’s role in disaster risk reduction. Public elementary schools in Balatasan, Balongay, Bonot-Sta. Rosa, Dominorog, Cagsao, Sabang, Punta Tarawal and San Bernardino vied for honours in the quiz bee and art competition.
Janyn Veri (Grade 3, Balongay Elementary School), Jane Adelaine Villar (Grade 4, Balongay ES), Elrey Panciles (Grade 5, San Bernardino ES) and Christian Aguila (Grade 6, Balatasan ES) won top honours in their respective grade level quiz bee competitions.
Reymark Artista (Grade 3), Michael Rojo (Grade 4), Erwin Artista (Grade 5) all of G. Dumalasa Elementary School, and Jeremy Bronzal (Grade 6) of Cagsao Elementary School garnered the top spots in their respective grade level on-the-spot poster-making contest.
Prior to the inter-school competition, intra-school competition among different grade levels were held to select the school representatives to the inter-school competition.
“The school competitions is the highlight of a series of disaster reduction activities undertaken by teachers and students, and is aimed to test the effectiveness of these risk reduction activities,” explained DepEd schools division superintendent Lita T. Mijares. “These activities include teachers’ training on disaster risk reduction, school contingency planning, conduct of earthquake drills, integrating disaster risk reduction messages in lesson plans as part of our curriculum development, and classroom discussions on disaster risk reduction, all undertaken in collaboration with the ACCORD Project” Mijares added.
ACCORD is a community-based disaster risk reduction project being implemented in Calabanga and four other municipalities by the local government units (LGUs) in partnership with CARE Nederland, Corporate Network for Disaster Response and Agri-Aqua Development Coalition, and funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department.
The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department is one of the world’s largest providers of financing for humanitarian aid operations. Its mandate not only includes the funding of disaster relief but also the support of disaster preparedness activities, in particular at local level. Through its disaster preparedness programme (DIPECHO) it assists vulnerable people living in the main disaster-prone regions of the world in reducing the impact of natural disasters on their lives and livelihoods. European Commission funding for the current phase of ACCORD is EUR420,000, or a total EUR760,750 for two project phases.
Awards
Mayor Evelyn S. Yu, Mr. Zueno Luzada who represented schools division supervisor Emma I. Cornejo, Mr. Neptuno Bueza of RDCC-OCD 5 and CARE Nederland Country Representative Celso B. Dulce, Jr. led the awarding of prizes for the quiz bee and art competition.
During the awarding ceremonies, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council also discussed the significance annual Gawad Kalasag competition and awards for best practices in disaster risk reduction. Mayor Yu explained that “it is important for everyone to understand the importance of the Gawad Kalasag. The award, more than a recognition of achievements, must be taken as a challenge to do better in protecting the lives and livelihoods of the people of Calabanga from disasters and the negative effects of climate change.”
Mayor Yu revealed that Calabanga won the Gawad Kalasag award at the regional level and is a finalist in the national level competition. She attributed the municipality’s success to a large extent to the partnership of the LGU with CARE Nederland, CNDR, AADC, and to the continuing support of the European Commission. A photo exhibit of a wide range of activities undertaken under the ACCORD Project including trainings, contingency planning, drills, public awareness activities, construction of small-scale mitigation projects and mangrove reforestation was set up in the award venue.
Prior to the awarding ceremonies, the municipal disaster coordinating council conducted an earthquake drill where LGU employees participated.
“We have organized the school competitions to be part of the disaster risk reduction festival the LGU, DepEd and the ACCORD Project launched to celebrate the national disaster consciousness month. This is our way of celebrating accomplishments in disaster reduction. The school has an important role in creating a culture of disaster reduction in the country,” said schools division superintendent Mijares.
For additional details, please contact:
Ciriaco Santiago III
Mobile Number: +639159092144
E-mail: sanjuncssr@yahoo.com
Feoby Fynn Francia
Mobile Number: +639064604140
E-mail: feobyfynn@yahoo.com
Mia Marie Brusola
Mobile Number: +639276764300
E-mail: mia.brusola@yahoo.com; mia.brusola@cndr,org.ph