By Gideon C. Corgue
DUMALINAO, Zamboanga del Sur – “We should prepare at all times for any disaster,” said the message of Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Vitaliano Valdez as read by Forester Romeo Ansale before the students and teachers of Dumalinao National High School in Barangay Paglaum here over the weekend.
Speaking during the culmination program of the observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month and the launching of Climate Change Information and Education Campaign, Valdes cited the natural calamities which struck the country in recent years specifically super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) that left 6,300 dead, 28,000 injured and P30-billion worth of properties/infrastructures destroyed.
“The disastrous event brought the country to the spotlight because of the great extent of damage wrought on the people and the communities,” he added.
Valdez also cited the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Bohol province on October 15, 2013, killing more than 200 people and leaving million worth of properties devastated.
Valdez said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical Astronomical Services Administation (PAG-ASA) had reported that El Nino phenonomenon would affect the country this year. “We will will experience again a very long dry spell,” Valdez quoted the PAG-ASA report.
He also disclosed that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has provided the local government units (LGUs) geo-hazard maps to guide them in disaster preparedness. “In the maps, the LGUs can take note of the areas declared as highly susceptible for flooding and landslide,” Valdez said.
He likewise encouraged the teachers to implement proactive measures by training their students on how to properly respond to calamities.
In a related development, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Adelaida Borja on Friday encouraged students to advocate the National Greening Program (NGP) of government to help mitigate the impact of climate change.
“We need to actively involve ourselves in planting and nurturing trees to lessen the adverse impact of climate change on our families and communities,” Borja explained.
The Climate Change Information and Education Campaign had already been conducted Barangay San Jose-Gusu, Zamboanga City, Poblacion, Imelda , Zamboanga Sibugay as well as in Sergio Osmena National High School in Zamboanga del Norte, and Dumalinao Natinal High School in Zamboanga del Sur.