DABAWENYOS URGED TO HEED CALLS FOR EVACUATION DURING DISASTER

With the onset of the rainy days, the Davao City government has called on all Dabawenyos especially those living in flood and landslide-prone areas to be vigilant at all times and heed advice for pre-emptive evacuation.The reminder was issued after the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) rescue teams were facing challenges in evacuating residents of Bangkal during Tuesday night’s flooding incident.“May we remind everyone nga once magsulti og pre-emptive evacuation ang atong City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and Barangay Risk Reduction and Management Office, kinahanglan mapatuman ta sa pre-emptive evacuation so that dili ta maabot sa punto nga kinahanglan na ta i-rescue dinha sa atoang lugar (May we remind everyone to follow once the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) and Barangay Risk Reduction and Management Office implement pre-emptive evacuation so we will not reach the point that we need rescue you when the floodwater is high),” said Mayor Inday Sara Duterte over Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday.She said that there are still residents who refused and waited for the water to rise and get inside their homes before they evacuate. The mayor said this practice should stop to prevent things to worsen.On Tuesday, Davao City experienced moderate to heavy rain causing Talomo River channels to overflow to nearby residential areas in Barangay Talomo Proper. The responding teams from CDRRMO evacuated around 900 individuals from the affected areas to three (3) evacuation sites.The city government also deployed its Kusina ng Bayan under the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to serve hot meals, while 1,000 reusable face masks were also distributed by the City Health Office (CHO). CIOCategorized in Disaster Risk Reduction & Mitigation

Automatic Weather Stations Installed in Region XI

Six Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) were successfully installed in Region XI by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PAGASA). the six weather stations were strategically located at the Provincial Nursery of Baganga, Davao Oriental; Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur; PAGASA office, Sasa, Davoa City; City Hall, Island Garden City of Samal; Provincial Capitol of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province; and at the Davao Oriental State college o Science and Technology in Mati, Davao Oriental. The AWS are stand-alone devices that measure weather-related factors and transmit data from remote areas to the PAGASA Head Office on real-time basis.

"These AWS stations installed in the region play critical role in mitigating hazards not only in the region but all throughout the country. This equipment will transmit weather data from the remote sites to PAGASA Head Office for further analysis and weather forecasting," says DOST XI Regional Director Dr. Anthony Sales. 

Aside from those installed by DOST-PAGASA, there were four units installed in Region XI under the collocation project with SMART Communications Inc. The collocation project of DOST-PAGASA with SMART aims to improve the weather monitoring, forecasts, warnings and strengthen the disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts of the Philippines. 

If you need further information please do not hesitate and contact Mr. Eric c. Colmenares thru telephone no. (082) 221-5428.

DOST to Strengthen Teachers on Disaster Management

As we are experiencing climate change, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) deemed it necessary to increase awareness and strengthen the capability of Science and Mathematics teachers on disaster risk reduction and management. Although one seldom experience strong earthquakes in Southern Mindanao, the disaster risk reduction and management awareness will guide teachers as well as students on how to effectively respond when such phenomenon occurs.

Fifty Science and Mathematics teachers from elementary and secondary schools as well as State Universities and Colleges in the region will gather on April 24-27, 2012 for the seminar workshop on "Strengthen the Capacity of Science and Mathematics Teachers on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management". The Science Education Insitute (SEI) of DOST recognizes that it is one of the fundamental functions of teachers to take part in educating students spend more hours in school, it is crucial for the teachers to understand the concepts on disasters and climate change to effectively and accurately transfer information to students. Students can then transfer the information to their family members causing a multiplier effect.

Experts from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geogrpahical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS), Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-MGB), and the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) will be invited as resource speakers during the said seminar workshop.

Participants, aside from being trained and capacitated to teach disaster risk reduction and management to students, are expected to come up with a disaster risk reduction and management plan for their respective schools.