By: Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN
CITY – The local government, through the
City Disaster Risk ReductionManagement Office and Philippine Red Cross
Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian City Chapter spearheaded early this month, the
observance of National Disaster Consciousness and National Blood Donors’ Month
celebration.
To
kick-off the month-long twin celebration, a motorcade around the city’s main
streets was conducted and participated by national and local officials and
employees, Philippine Red Cross, Department of Health, Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection
(BFP), Philippine Air Force (PAF), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine
Medical Association, barangay officials and other concerned groups.
City
Administrator Lauro Mendoza, who ably represented Mayor Romeo P. Pulmones in
his message said that this year’s theme “ Kahandaan at PagtugonsaSakuna, Tungkulin
ngBawat Isa” is really very appropriate because disaster cannot be predicted as
to when it will strike our city.
“Prevention
isbetter than cure,” Mendoza emphasized. “Disaster preparedness is not only the
concern of the city mayor, the city council, barangay officials or other
government agencies, but it is the responsibility of everyone,” Mendoza added.
“Sometimes,
we treat calamity as nature or act of
God, but it is the result of the abuse and greediness of man, such as irresponsible
mining. If we focus on it, it has short-term gain but at the expense of a
long-term destruction,” he further said.
“The
mass destruction of our forest and mangrove is not God’s will, but the will of
some people who has a short vision with vested interest. All these can be
prevented, if all of us will get involved in protecting our environment,”
Mendoza stressed.
With
regards to the Blood Donors’ Month celebration, he encouraged all those
qualified individuals to donate blood. “It will improve our health, at the same
time, help those who need blood and save lives,” he stated.
On
the other hand, newly elected City Councilor Maphilindo Obaob said disaster
preparedness should not only be observed during the month of July but everyday.
“Disaster cannot be forecasted, or we cannot say when it will happen. Sometimes
we think disaster is only flashflood, but the worse disaster we have to
consider and be prepared is man-made disaster,” he stressed.
Accordingly,
the 17th council of PagadianCity led by newly elected Vice Mayor
Ernesto A. Mondarte will create an Integrated Defense System, wherein all national,
regional and local government agencies,including barangay officials, civic and
religious groups, as well as other concerned sectors will be given functions in times of disaster or trouble,
Obaob announced.
“A
minute of preparedness is better than an hour of restoration,” he underscored.
In the same occasion, a mass bloodletting was also conducted by the PRC assisted by some doctors and medical staff of DOH and the City Health Office.