BONTOC, Mountain Province – A resolution reiterating the prevention of drowning incidents and heat-related hazards in schools and offices in Mountain Province (MP) was signed by the members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) during the council’s first quarter meeting on February 17, 2025.
The meeting was presided over by PDRRMC Chairperson, Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. and PDRRRC Co-Chairperson, PDRRM Officer Edward F. Chumawar, Jr.
The PDRRMC Resolution No. 2025-064 was crafted in response to the significant risks of drowning incidents and heat-related hazards to students, employees, and the general public, particularly during the dry season and periods of extreme heat.
Therefore, the resolution calls for the reiteration of the implementation of drowning prevention programs and safety guidelines in schools in order to instill responsible behavior and vigilance among students, teachers, and parents. The resolution also calls for the reinforcement of preventive measures through policies, trainings, and information dissemination campaigns that align with disaster risk reduction efforts and promotes safety and resilience.
Based on the reports from the PDRRM Office, there were seven cases of drowning incidents reported the PDRRMO with two four-year old males being the youngest victims.
Meanwhile, in relation to the dry season and the observance of the Fire Prevention Month in March 2025, MP Environment and Natural Resources Officer-in-Charge Raul I. Edan suggested to the Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other concerned offices to conduct capacity-building trainings for forest rangers, guards and keepers, including the civil society organizations, among others, in preparation for the recurring incidents of forest fires, which happens most in MP during summer. By MP-PIO
