ADRA Philippines through its No Risk Project initiated a Child-Led DRR Training in North Central Mindanao Conference last April 11 -13 2016.
Through the partnership with the Conference’s Education Department children and teachers from 22 Adventist run school institutions from Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro City and Camiguin island had gathered at the NCMC Conference Hall for a three-day training on Child-Led DRR.
Vevian Tuason from the DepEd Division of Misamis Oriental explained during the training that “all schools not only public school but as well as private schools should comply with the DepEd rules and regulations regarding the mainstreaming of DRR in the school systems and implementations of programs and projects relative to mitigation of risks.”
She also emphasized that schools must be safe and the key to it was to make sure that all schools has a safe schools program both structural and non-structural component.”
Children including teachers are one of the most vulnerable segment group during disasters and calamities. Considering the loss of life and disruption of education and normal child development disaster risk reduction is vital in building disaster resilient communities/schools by promoting awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development with the goal of reducing human, social, economic & environmental losses due to natural hazards.
Mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in schools help will raise the awareness and understanding not only of children and teachers, but of the community on how to prevent, mitigate, respond and cope with in times of emergencies. DepEd on its efforts to mainstream the DRR in the education sector and in recognition of the front liners role of teachers during disasters/calamities issued DepEd Order 50 S2011 requiring all public and private schools to prioritize the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction management in the school system and ensure implementation of programs and projects related to DRR.