By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Department of Education (DepEd) continues to strengthen its capacities to promote a culture of disaster preparedness as it joins the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month this July.
📷
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Pursuant to Executive Order No. 29 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on June 28, 2017, DepEd joins the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month this July with the theme “Kahandaan sa Sakuna’t Peligro para sa Tunay na Pagbabago.”
DepEd, through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Service, said it continues to strengthen its capacities to promote a culture of disaster preparedness. DepEd also noted that through a number of policies and programs, it also commits to build a “resilient society” in times of disasters.
The DRRMS, DepEd explained, has also been implementing DRRM programs, projects, and activities with the “aim of reducing risks and impacts of disasters for learners, personnel, schools, and offices arising from natural and human-induced hazards.”
The DepEd DRRMS aims to “empower personnel, offices, schools, and learners in ensuring safety and learning community.” It also “institutionalizes DRRM, Climate Change Adaption (CCA) and Emergency in Education (EiE); and “strengthens the resilience of basic education in the context of natural and human-induced hazards.”
In 2015, the Comprehensive DRRM in Education Framework was issued as contained in DepEd Order No. 37. It aims to “guide DRRM efforts in the basic education sector towards resilience-building in offices and schools” and to “ensure that quality education is continuously provided and prioritized even during disasters and/or emergencies.”
DepEd noted that this framework institutionalized DRRM structures, systems, protocols, and practices in the department’s offices and schools. It will also provide a “common understanding and language in the implementation of DRRM in basic education at all levels.”
DepEd’s Comprehensive DRRM in basic education framework is guided by its strategic thrusts and the National DRRM framework. “The education interventions on DRRM should be aligned with the three outcomes [access, quality, and governance] and the four DRRM thematic areas [prevention and mitigation; preparedness; response, and recovery and rehabilitation]” to “maintain a learner-centered, right-based implementation at all levels.”
Furthermore, the objectives of the framework, DepEd noted, is to “protect learners and education workers from death, injury, and harm in schools”; “plan for educational continuity in the face of expected hazards and threats”; “safeguard education sector investments”; and “strengthen risk reduction and resilience through education.”
Komen