BONTOC, Mountain Province – Trained responders in the barangays and in the municipal government of this capital town are now more equipped with skills and knowledge on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).
This, with the conduct of the first “Bontoc DRRM Challenge” participated in by the four zones and the employees of the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU).
According to Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Johanna F. Padaen, the ALBAGO comprising barangays Alab Proper, Alab Oriente, Balili and Gonogon was represented by Balili; Barangay Samoki represented the other barangays comprising Central zone to include Bontoc Ili, Caluttit and Poblacion; Riverside consisting barangays Bayyo, Caneo, Tocucan and Talubin was represented by the latter; and Upland was represented by Maligcong to cover also barangays Dalican, Guina-ang and Mainit.
With 10 members in each team, the events competed by the participants are First Aid Management of tissue injuries, First Aid Management of burn injuries, splinting, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Spine Board Management and Transport, Modified Rescue and Transfer Relay, Flammable Liquid Fire Extinguishments and Modified Bucket Relay.
Padaen explained that the participants were trained by the Bontoc Municipal Government and its partner agencies in the previous years. Thus, the activity aimed to enhance and assess the capacities and capabilities of the trained responders in the barangays and the municipal government employees on DRRM.
As a result, the Riverside cluster represented by Barangay Talubin emerged as the over-all champion. Bontoc LGU landed in 1st place while Central Bontoc represented by Barangay Samoki got the 2nd place. In recognition, the winners were awarded with trophies.
Aside from this, Riverside cluster was the champion in the First Aid Management and CPR, Flammable Fire Extinguishment and Bucket Relay events. Bontoc LGU won in Rescue and Transfer Relay event.
In his message, Bontoc Mayor Franklin C. Odsey recognized the importance of having trained responders in the grassroots as it is them who are expected to help each other in case a disaster happens in the barangay.
“We are not praying for disaster to befall our place, but should it be unavoidable, at least we are prepared and ready,” Odsey remarked as he encouraged the participants to continuously enhance their skills in DRRM.
The mayor also expressed high hopes that all the learning they will acquire in the activity will help save lives of people not only in their respective barangays but in all the places they will go.
After the activity, the participants expressed their gratitude to the Bontoc LGU and its partner agencies emphasizing that it challenges and inspires them to continuously acquire life skills training to be always prepared. The participants also made a request that similar activity be conducted every year for them to be refreshed and reminded of the DRRM and other skills training.
In response to this, Padaen assured that similar activity will be conducted next year with pronouncement of the chief executive of the support of the Bontoc LGU to DRRM programs.
She also extended her gratitude to the participants and the barangay officials for their enthusiasm in responding to the Bontoc DRRM Challenge; and to the Bontoc Municipal Fire Station, Bontoc Emergency Response Team (BERT) and Bontoc Municipal Police Station (MPS) for their assistance that led to success of the activity. Likewise, she thanked the Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School (MPGCHS) and Red Cross –Mountain Province for the use of the facilities and some equipment.
The activity which was spearheaded by the Bontoc LGU through its MDRRMO is in observance of the National Disaster Resiliency Month this July with the theme “Katatagan sa Kalamidad ay Makakamtan Kung Sapat ang Kaalaman sa Kahandaan”.
By Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc
