By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
With fire being a secondary hazard among major disasters, the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to push for initiatives and programs that would help prepare schools, learners, and teachers when such incidents occur.
Department of Education (MANILA BULLETIN)
DepEd data showed that in a span of almost a decade, there were 15,662 schools that have experience a fire incident at least once. In School Year (SY) 2017-2018 alone, DepEd said that there were 1, 869 schools that reported fire incidents.
Given this, DepEd— through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) –has partnered with the Bureau of Fire Protection–National Capital Region (BFP–NCR) and held the Fire Square Road Show in celebration of this year’s National Disaster Resilience Month.
During the activity, BFP-NCR District IV Fire Marshall Senior Superintendent, Ricardo Perdigon explained that the Fire Square Road Show is the agency’s frontline program for “imparting awareness on fire prevention and response. This event was designed to primarily train children in disaster response.”
With the “Big One” or a magnitude 7.2 earthquake which will affect the Greater Metro Manila Area, Perdigon also called for collective action from the public. He underscored that in worst-case scenarios, the “fire department will need the assistance of the education sector in preparing for, responding to, and most especially preventing fire.”
Through informative and interactive booths, DepEd personnel were exposed to firefighting techniques, simulations of collapsed structures, and electrical safety in partnership with Meralco. Basic first aid was demonstrated through cardio pulmonary resuscitation, and bandaging and splinting booths. Ropemanship, knot tying, rappelling, and warning signages and safety practices were likewise featured.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and Project Management Service, Tonisito Umali, Esq., commended DepEd’s strengthened partnership with the BFP under the leadership of Secretary Leonor Briones. Such partnership is vital as over 15,000 schools nationwide experienced fire from School Years 2009-2010 to 2017-2018 as stated by DRRMS Director Ronilda Co.
Through DepEd’s Fire Safety and Awareness Program, which was strengthened by Department Order No. 28, s. 2016, schools are already enjoined to develop their own fire safety plans, facilitate BFP safety inspections, and conduct quarterly fire drills and fire safety lectures, among others.
As part of the annual celebration, DepEd’s DRRMS partnered with national government agencies and non-government organizations to advocate for and strengthen disaster resilience. The Earthquake Resilience Forum tackled various scenarios and protocols centered on the “Big One” on the first day of the celebration.
DepEd personnel were also able to visit booths of the National Education Cluster Partners and Education Resilience Working Group (ERWG) including UNICEF, World Vision, SEAMEO INNOTECH, Save the Children, Unilab Foundation, Philippine Red Cross, Assistance and Cooperation for Resilience and Development Inc., Plan International, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, and Center for Humanitarian Learning and Innovation from July 23 to 25.