By
Alma L. Tingcang
PAGADIAN CITY - Nine thousand members of the Barangay Emergency Response Team (BERT) convened at the CYC Sports Complex, Provincial Government Center,
Dao, this city for its First Congress on September 17, 2013.
Tasked to be the first responders in
natural and man-made disaster in their respective barangays, BERT is a national
strategy created to address the need for an on time response during emergency
situations.
Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio
H. Cerilles in his speech, recognized the vital role they play since they are
in the frontline and the first to know
what happens and what goes on in their barangay.
“Remember that you have a very important
role in nation-building. We are all Filipinos and we have an obligation to help
our country. We should not settle ourselves with our regional representation. We
should not say we are Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilocano or what. What is is important
and foremost is that, all of us are Filipinos,” the governor said emphatically.
He said BERT members promote the
right of the people to health and safety from all circumstances. They guard the
peace and security of the barangay.
“We can do
much to help President Benigno C. Aquino III. He needs your help. He needs your
presence in every barangay. He needs
Filipinos who are strong and who have the heart to help our country,” he went
on to encourage the BERT members.
Cerilles
said although the elected officials in Zamboanga del Sur mostly belong to the
Mationalist Peoples’ Coalition (NPC), they have given their full support to the
leadership of Pnoy because we are all Filipinos. He vowed his sustained collaboration with the
administration of PNoy until his term ends in 2016. (PIA9)