The United States government has launched a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Toolkit, a comprehensive training guide to enhance disaster preparedness capability of the US Peace Corps Volunteers and their partner communities in the Philippines.
According to the US Embassy in Manila, the DRR Toolkit contains resources on developing disaster preparedness strategies, conducting risk assessments, managing community resources, and strengthening early warning systems.
It also promotes the active participation of all community members in pre-disaster planning.
From Oct. 14 to 18, the Peace Corps gathered 28 of its volunteers, staff, and work partners from the Philippine government and non-government institutions for an orientation-training based on the DRR Toolkit in Rizal.
The training program, which was funded by the US Agency for International Development, deepened collaboration and knowledge exchange between the Peace Corps and its work partners to help strengthen the disaster preparedness programs of local communities.
"The DRR Toolkit is a vital resource for helping communities build resilience and reduce the impact of disasters and extreme weather events," Peace Corps Philippines Country Director Marguerite Roy said.
"The toolkit is very inclusive and can be easily integrated and used as a guide in the participatory planning and mentoring activities in the communities,” Raoul Cam, the city engineer Ormoc, Leyte, said.