By
Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN
CITY – In observance of the National Disaster Consciousness
Month, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional
Office IX here has set a series of activities in support to the month-long commemoration.
To
highlight the event, an earthquake drill was held yesterday, July 20 at the
President Corazon C. Aquino Regional Government Center in Barangay Balintawak. About
200 rank and file employees of the department participated in the activity.
The
drill was under the supervision of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)
represented by Mr. Vigor B. Bernido, chief of operations, OCD-9 and Mr. Mark
Anthony V. Almeda, designate focal person for Zamboangadel Sur together with
SFO1 Arlene A. Dialco of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
DENR-9
Regional Director Arleigh J. Adorable said the drill aims
to raise wider awareness among the employees and make them prepared in
times of disaster. “It is better to be prepared than to be sorry,” he
emphasized.
Prior
to this undertaking, a symposium on disaster risk reduction was also conducted
on July 18 to selected personnel and focal persons jointly facilitated by OCD staff, BFP and Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
