Rotary in Sagada /Disaster preparedness

HAPPY WEEKEND
Gina Dizon

September 26 marks the official declaration of Rotary Sagada. Seven Rotary clubs from northern Luzon were witness to the proclamation of the newly established Rotary Sagada led by Vice Mayor Richard Yodong by District governor DignaRagasa.

Visiting Rotary club members represented Downtown Baguio, Baguio Sunrise, mother club, La Trinidad, Calasiao and Vigan. Prospective Rotarians from Bontoc, Mountain Province also attended the orientation including Vice Mayor William Aspilan and Councilor Jerome Tudlong.

District assistant governor Joe Concepcion said Rotarians are moved with a philosophy to be of service to humankind powered by Rotary’s popular four way test which questions: is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned?Will it build good will and better friendships? And, will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Sagada Rotary adviser Thomas Killip said the cultural practise of elders of Sagada to find out the best way to make things right for the community makes elders and leaders informal Rotarians. Though, he added that the organized Rotary organization expands the involvement of Rotarians in the international world.

With guiding motto, “service above self”, Rotary has some P1.2 million members spread throughout the world with four service thrusts on club, vocational, community , and international spheres. Club service focuses on strengthening fellowship. Vocational services encourage service to others through respective vocations.

Community service covers projects in the improvement of the community including waterworks, health or reforestation or any felt need of a community. International service expands Rotary around the world seeking international partners to expand the organization’s humanitarian service.

Rotary is currently involved in eradicating polio in its global project PolioPlus. Rotarians have contributed US $850 helping two billion of the world’s children in its partnership with the World Health Organization and UNICEF. As part of the fund-raising activities, Rotary received a US$100 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Rotary committed to raise US$200 million by June 30, 2012 and with a combined US$555 million from both Rotary International and Bill Gates Foundation.

Police Insp. Benedict Del-ong, past president of La Trinidad-Rotary introduced Rotary in Sagada. He said Rotary Sagada shall soon have an induction of its officers. Rotary Sagada holds its weekly meetings every Tuesday at 5 o’clock pm.
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Typhoons Pedring and Quiel visited the country last week and practically wrought havoc to crops, infrastructure, roads, and lives. Crop damage nationwide amounted to 11 billion pesos. Such a big blow to food security in the next coming months and year. The brunt of the two heavy calamities heavily hit Central Luzon especially Nueva Ecija, where a bulk of the country’s rice supplies come from.

The nearby province of Ifugao was heavily hit by the past two typhoons affected 110 barangays, 2,195 families, 139 damaged houses, 4 dead, and 21 injured leading to the declaration of the province of Ifugao in a state of calamity, by Gov. Eugene Balitang. Is there help coming?

While Gawad Kalinga and the National Red Cross and other private initiatives are currently accepting donations for victims of the two typhoon disasters, President Noynoy Aquino said there is a ready P8 billion for disaster affected areas.

While that is so, the president seemingly is saying there is a real need for stand by funds whenever disaster strikes. In the last 2011 budget, he vetoed a P5 billion allotment for disaster preparedness with the argument that ready funds are needed in actual disasters.

Yet, it is a glaring reality that community based or municipal and provincial disaster risk management councils are significantly necessary to be prepared in disasters which hit a community. Where the country is located in an area where typhoons, flood, landslides, and earthquakes are a foreseen occurrence, it is best that the community is prepared and organized.

The Philippine National Red Cross shares some pointers on the volunteer needs of a community –based disaster management. One is the need for Organizers who shall be responsible in the recruitment and training of volunteers. It shall also make sure that government efforts are in coordination with nongovernment organizations doing disaster management activities. In this case where groups may be having issues on who takes the credit, it is but important that efforts are coordinated for the public’s welfare. With Presidential Decree 1566 which establishes a national program on community preparedness, local officials are accountable to make sure that disaster coordinating councils are in place.

A responsive disaster management group needs trainers who shall take note of hazard and risk analysis of disasters. They shall facilitate trainings for the community volunteers including primary health care and first aid. Technical consultants are also needed where they shall determine the feasibility of an evacuation site or design of
structures where such is necessary.

Search and rescue groups are extremely necessary to include those on transport and first aid provisions. Also, medical and nursing volunteers are a significant necessity. Where the food, fuel, and money come from is now the job of resource generators. They shall be responsible in sourcing out and coordinating with groups or institutions for donations whether in cash or in kind.

A communications group shall be responsible in delivering warning messages and information links between field personnel and central offices to facilitate monitoring and information updates.

Guidance counselors come in very important where they shall take care of psychosocial intervention to victims of disaster through the conduct of stress debriefing to help victims rationalize what is happening. It is noted in every disaster that tracing relatives of victims and other persons affected in a given area hit by a disaster is important where relatives want to know how their loves ones are doing.

Other direct volunteers are needed including those who shall distribute packed food, document results of a disaster, and monitor everyday activities. One will not forget kitchen volunteers who shall make sure that hot soup/food and coffee are always available.

And public information efforts are needed to publicize a community disaster management plan. With media exposure, people are made aware on community hazards and vulnerabilities in their respective community; what an individual, family and a community shall do in case of disaster; why hazards exist and who are likely to be affected; where and when these hazards occur and most importantly how to reduce vulnerabilities.

Is your community ready for the next disaster?