Benguet Corp. donates equipment for disasters to barangay nofficials

ITOGON, Benguet – Benguet Corporation has provided some of its host communities with equipment to help disaster officials respond to emergencies during  calamities, especially with the onslaught of the rainy season.

            

Mignon de Leon, BC vice president for administration, said the mine firm has procured personal protective equipment (PPE) and some basic disaster response tools for the 20-member Barangay Disaster Brigade of Virac, Itogon, Benguet under its social development and management program (SDMP) so that they will be well-equipped during emergency situations.

            

According to her, these gears consist of skull guards, rubber boots, raincoats, reflectorized vests, shovels, picks and axes.

            

We have to make sure that our host communities are well-equipped versus disasters so that they will be able to save lives and properties,” de Leon said, adding that disaster preparedness is part of their commitment in order to establish a safe and sound community.

            

The BC official said more equipment are programmed for the same formed emergency response team of Barangay Poblacion, Itogon, which, aside from those earlier mentioned, include fire extinguishers, rechargeable flashlights and emergency lights, megaphone, first aid kits, stretcher, cervical collars and ambubags.

           

 Earlier, the mining company conducted first aid and disaster preparedness trainings for all elementary and high school students, barangay officials and community representatives in its host barangays in order to instill to them the importance of disaster preparedness so that people will be able to save lives and properties from losses and damages once the natural calamities will visit the Cordillera.

           

 De Leon disclosed the company also maintains its rescue team ready to respond to any emergency that may arise even in its surrounding communities, as it has done in the past, in the same way that it conducted relief operations, deployed its heavy equipment, opened its facilities as temporary shelters for those affected and provided other assistance to disaster response considering that disaster preparedness is one of their commitments to its host and neighboring communities.

She cited regular monitoring of company and other surrounding structures was also made as a standard operating procedure whenever a typhoon or heavy rains hit the area to ensure that the company’s facilities are ready during calamity situations.

            

Based on the geo-hazard map released by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, majority of the areas in this mountainous region are landslide prone.

            

“The probability of the occurrence of this and other natural disasters is increasing during the rainy season, reason why the national government has declared July, the usual start of the wet season, as National Disaster Consciousness Month in order to instill awareness among people on the importance of disaster preparedness, especially in reducing the loss of lives and damage to properties,” de Leon said, adding the region, including Benguet, is being frequented by natural calamities that pose a serious threat to life and limb, particularly to those disaster-prone areas that were previously identified. -- Dexter A. See