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 – 3rd.
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.