Essay Writing, Poster Making Contest caps NDCM celebration

By Alma L. Tingcang

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay - The Office of Civil Defense-IX (OCD)   culminated the celebration of the National Disaster  Consciousness Month with an Essay Writing and Poster Making Contest held at Casa Mea Hotel and Restaurant on July 28.

Ms. Emilia V. Julhajan, OCD OIC regional director welcomed the participants from 11 public secondary schools in the province to include Zamboanga Sibugay National High School (NHS); Sta. Clara NHS; Kabasalan NHS, Diplahan NHS, Francisco Ramos NHS; Kabasalan Science and Technology High School; Titay NHS; Siay NHS; Buug NHS, Simbol NHS and Ipil NHS.

Science Education Program Supervisor of the Department of Education, Zamboanga Sibugay Division Dr. Jenny T. Dosil said the competition will help the students develop their skills and abilities by providing them an experience worth remembering.

“This provides an opportunity for them to increase Disaster Risk Reduction Management awareness through friendly competition towards attaining common goals,” Dr. Dosil explained.

She added that we cannot control natural calamities but we can mitigate its impact before they come. In this way, we will be able toreduce loss of lives, property and destruction of theenvironment. “Preparedness starts from ourselves, our family,” she stated.

We can also reduce the effectsof disasters through science and technology with the Early Warning Devices (EWDs) installed by the Department of Science and Technology. To date, there are 93 EWDs established in strategic locations in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region including automated weather stations, automated rain gauges and water level monitoring system.

Emerging as winners of the Essay Writing were Jayson G. Fernandez from Francisco Ramos NHS – first; Khea D. Labiano, Titay NHS – second; and Kyle Adrian H. Tesoro, Zamboanga Sibugay NHS – 3^rd.

Meanwhile, Poster Making contest winners were Joshua Ryan Caermare – Kabasalan NHS - first; Joenald S. Abalde of  Kabasalan NHS came second and Jonathan G. Macasaysay from Simbol NHS bagged the third prize.

First prize winners received a trophy and P5,000 cash; 2^nd prize – P3,000 and 3^rd prize winner received P2,000. For the non-winners, each received a consolation prize of P500 while the coaches received P1,000  from OCD.