As provided for in Executive Order No. 137 series of 2009, the month of July of every year is declared the National Disaster Consciousness Month. This year’s theme is “Kahandaan at Pagtugon sa Sakuna, Tungkulin”. This month celebration is an advocacy effort of the government to provide awareness on disaster preparedness in order to help communities to protest themselves and their families during disaster.

To commemorate the month’s event, several activities were lined up such as simultaneous earthquake drill, hanging of streamers, radio and TV guesting’s. Training on disaster preparedness and management is also being done in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense and other concerned agencies. Respective Local Government Units have come up with their own activities. To highlight the month’s activity, the LGU of Pandan, Catanduanes in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Field Office 5 conducted a three-day training on Camp Coordination and Camp Management. With two representative from the 26 barangays of Pandan and the members of the MDCC, there are 97 individuals in attendance. An LGU funded activity.

Camp Coordination and Camp Management aims to ensure equitable access to assistance, protection and services for internally displaced persons whom are mostly affected by natural disasters like typhoon, typhoon surge, landslide, etc. and all living in displacement sites. It also aims to improve their quality of life and dignity during displacement while seeking and advocating for durable solutions. Meanwhile, the DSWD has released the amount of 1.5m to 495 beneficiaries who were affected by Typhoon Ruby. These beneficiaries received 3,000 each under the Emergency Shelter Assistance of the DSWD.

Mr. Arvie Baluis one of the 495 beneficiaries shared that after the release of each grant he immediately bought construction materials, as he might be able to spend the money for any other purpose.

Ms. Annie Trinidad, the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer of Pandan, said that the beneficiaries of the ESA will be closely monitored to ensure that the cash grant will be used for the purpose.

Likewise, Ms. Marites Quismario, SWO II and the Focal Person on Disaster Management explained that the Emergency Shelter Assistance is a cash grant provided to families whose houses are totally/partially damaged caused by any form of disaster. It may be released in cash or in the form of construction materials, dependent on the situation favorable to the beneficiaries and the timeline set for the project implementation.