By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY, May 14 (PIA) -- Close to 50 Math and Science teachers in public elementary and secondary schools in Pagadian have undergone a one (1) week training on disaster risk reduction and management dubbed “Strengthening the capacity of Science and Math teachers on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management” at Bay Plaza Hotel on May 6-11.
The training is offered free of charge by the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) and in partnership with the DOST’s regional office 9. 10, 11, and 12.
Senior science research specialist Cynthia Gayya said it is the mandate of DOST-SEI to conduct training to teachers on how to deal with natural disasters using calamity learning modules to instruct students on the importance of disaster preparation.
The teachers were given intensive training that enhanced their knowledge about disasters like typhoon, earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruptions and how to effectively implement a disaster management plan.
Gayya said the participants were exclusive for Math and Science teachers only because they have basic concepts in Science and it would be easy for them to grasp ideas and understand technical terms that will be imparted by the lecturers.
“We have chosen Math and Science teachers as our participants because they are good channel in propagating information to their students and to their respective families, Gayya explained.
“This is a very enriching training,” Gayya said. “At the end of this training, they are expected to be informed and capacitated, and would know how to formulate disaster risk reduction action plan in their respective schools,” she added.
Gayya said last year the same training was conducted in Luzon and Visayas and for this year we are doing it in Mindanao because nobody is spared from disasters.
It was the 4th time that the training was held in Mindanao. “On April, we have conducted training in the cities of Koronadal, Cagayan de Oro , and Davao, and this week we are conducting in Pagadian," she said. "We are hoping that this training will be our regular activity and eventually will be expanded to disaster prone areas."
PAG-ASA-DOST assistant weather services chief Vincent Palcon Jr. said the activity is part of the agency’s information and education campaign for the public to be more cautious and vigilant whenever natural disaster occurs.
Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia High School Biology teacher Lilian Guinea said the training is nice and worthwhile experience saying that the knowledge she gained during the training will enable her to implement in their school.
“Our school is near the shoreline and prone to disaster, and with the knowledge that I’ve learned can be applied in our school, home, or the community in order to minimize, if not eliminate the destruction to lives and properties,” she added.
Otto Lingue National High School mathematics and chemistry teacher Elmar Ancog said the training is very informative and indispensable. It is very useful and essential to our school because we know then how to make mitigation measures or to take protective measures.
“Our school is landslide and flood prone area and our students are passing through big rivers during school days thus we need to undertake necessary measures by providing safety of our students,” Ancog said.
“We could also extend the information to our barangay officials because they are our stakeholders who will help us establish an emergency pan in case of disaster,” Ancog added.
The participants were taught also on how to conduct actual earthquake drill.
Topics discussed were climate variability and climate change, meteorological and other weather-related hazards, flood forecasting and warning services, earthquake and earthquake hazards, volcano and volcanic hazards, rain-induced landslides and DRR measures. (PIA9/JPA/GCC/ZamboSur)
The training is offered free of charge by the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) and in partnership with the DOST’s regional office 9. 10, 11, and 12.
Senior science research specialist Cynthia Gayya said it is the mandate of DOST-SEI to conduct training to teachers on how to deal with natural disasters using calamity learning modules to instruct students on the importance of disaster preparation.
The teachers were given intensive training that enhanced their knowledge about disasters like typhoon, earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruptions and how to effectively implement a disaster management plan.
Gayya said the participants were exclusive for Math and Science teachers only because they have basic concepts in Science and it would be easy for them to grasp ideas and understand technical terms that will be imparted by the lecturers.
“We have chosen Math and Science teachers as our participants because they are good channel in propagating information to their students and to their respective families, Gayya explained.
“This is a very enriching training,” Gayya said. “At the end of this training, they are expected to be informed and capacitated, and would know how to formulate disaster risk reduction action plan in their respective schools,” she added.
Gayya said last year the same training was conducted in Luzon and Visayas and for this year we are doing it in Mindanao because nobody is spared from disasters.
It was the 4th time that the training was held in Mindanao. “On April, we have conducted training in the cities of Koronadal, Cagayan de Oro , and Davao, and this week we are conducting in Pagadian," she said. "We are hoping that this training will be our regular activity and eventually will be expanded to disaster prone areas."
PAG-ASA-DOST assistant weather services chief Vincent Palcon Jr. said the activity is part of the agency’s information and education campaign for the public to be more cautious and vigilant whenever natural disaster occurs.
Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia High School Biology teacher Lilian Guinea said the training is nice and worthwhile experience saying that the knowledge she gained during the training will enable her to implement in their school.
“Our school is near the shoreline and prone to disaster, and with the knowledge that I’ve learned can be applied in our school, home, or the community in order to minimize, if not eliminate the destruction to lives and properties,” she added.
Otto Lingue National High School mathematics and chemistry teacher Elmar Ancog said the training is very informative and indispensable. It is very useful and essential to our school because we know then how to make mitigation measures or to take protective measures.
“Our school is landslide and flood prone area and our students are passing through big rivers during school days thus we need to undertake necessary measures by providing safety of our students,” Ancog said.
“We could also extend the information to our barangay officials because they are our stakeholders who will help us establish an emergency pan in case of disaster,” Ancog added.
The participants were taught also on how to conduct actual earthquake drill.
Topics discussed were climate variability and climate change, meteorological and other weather-related hazards, flood forecasting and warning services, earthquake and earthquake hazards, volcano and volcanic hazards, rain-induced landslides and DRR measures. (PIA9/JPA/GCC/ZamboSur)
