Phillipines: PILCD distributes IEC materials on disaster preparedness to LGUs, agencies
A non-government organization in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme Philippines recently turned over more than 14,000 poster-brochures on disaster preparedness and response to local government units in the province of Benguet, Baguio City and other partners in continuing efforts to create disaster resilient communities.
People’s Initiative for Learning and Community Development (PILCD) Coordinator Marivic Patawaran led the distribution of poster-brochures during the Building Resilience Against Disasters and Climate Change Program at the Provincial Capitol last week.
On hand to receive the materials for Benguet were Governor Crescencio Pacalso, DILG Provincial Director Rufina Fegcan and the other officials from the 13 municipalities of the province Benguet.
The city government of Baguio, the Baguio City Emergency Medical Service, the Department of Education – Cordillera and the Department of Social Welfare and Development – CAR also received IEC materials.
Patawaran explained that the IEC materials were created from the various workshops and consultations conducted by the PILCD with its partners from the grassroots including the municipalities in Benguet, the city of Baguio and other partners from regional line agencies. The IEC materials should be posted in the various public areas in the community and in households to at least educate people on what to do before and during disasters such as typhoons, earthquake and flooding, she said.
PILCD is a non-profit organization committed to the development of marginalized communities and vulnerable sectors through community education and social action. It envisions a society where the right of all people to learn and to have equitable access to relevant and quality learning opportunities is realized; where people are enabled to understand and cope with the reality of their environment, and are empowered to define and transform their own destiny.
PILCD started working in the province after the typhoon Pepeng in 2009. It has partnered with the province of Benguet and some municipalities and barangays in creating their disaster contingency planning and early warning systems, as well as in the construction of typhoon affected or damaged infrastructures in some Benguet towns.
Pacalso thanked the PILCD for their efforts in helping the people in Benguet become more prepared and be safer during times of disasters and calamities. Thru the posters, people even in the far flung areas will be informed on how they should prepare during disasters especially disaster- prone areas, he said.