The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) kicked off the month-long celebration of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) on Friday, July 1.

The theme for this year’s celebration was “Sambayanang Pilipino, Nagkakaisa Tungo sa Katatagan at Maunlad na Kinabukasan” which seeks to advocate unity towards resilience and sustainable development.

During the virtual kickoff ceremony that was livestreamed on the social media pages of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and NDRRMC, the NDRRMC public affairs office called on the public to participate in all NDRM-related activities and in the programs of other NDRRMC-member agencies that seek to strengthen the resilience of communities.

Similar to last year, a webinar series dubbed as “Resilience Hours” will be conducted every Thursday of the month. Among the topics that will be discussed will cover the four thematic areas of DRRM such as disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and recovery.

As part of pre-activities of NDRM, the NDRRMC also launched various contests including a video making contest which the theme “resilience.” The competition will be held from July 1 to 20 and has three categories: What’s in your Go Bag?; A Family that Prepares Together is Safe Together; and Para Kanino Ka Bumabangon? Other details of the contest can be found at the OCD and NDRRMC social media pages.

Meanwhile, submissions for the tagline-making contest and music composition competition ran from June 13 to 30.

As a country that sits in the Pacific Ring of Fire and Typhoon Belt which makes it vulnerable to volcanic eruptions, earthquake, and an average of 20 typhoons every year, the Philippines observes the National Disaster Resilience Month every July by virtue of Executive Order Number 29 signed on June 28, 2017.

EO No. 29 mandates the observance of NDRM "throughout the country through the conduct of activities relative to building of disaster resilience.”