BUTUAN CITY-In response to the directive of DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo to conduct Family and Community Disaster Preparedness, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga initiated the conduct of the three (3)-day training on Disaster Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and selected LGU PWD focal person on April 4-6, 2017 at VCDU Prince Hotel, this city.

The trainings focused on the modules on Policy Framework, Overview of Hazards and Understanding Disaster Management, Family Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Preparedness Framework, Participatory Disaster Risk Assessment, and Philippine Issuances Relating to PWD.

These modules are the results of the collaboration effort of DSWD through the former Bureau of Emergency Assistance that are designed for Community Volunteers of Emergency Response and Disaster Management.

Wilma Geralla, Senior Citizen/PWD focal person, said, that the PWDs were identified as the most vulnerable sectors in the society especially during disaster. This is mainly the reason why the Department conducted the training for them to prepare themselves and equip with appropriate knowledge in case of any calamity occur in the region.

With this training, the PWD leaders and the LGU focal persons are equipped with effective tools to enhance their teaching in high-risk places as well as strengthening their fellow PWDs and families on coping mechanism in the advent of calamities,” added Geralla.

Based on the updated Listahanan Database as of February 29, 2016, there are 21,296 poor PWDs in the entire region.###(ABEGAIL R. ALVAREZ/Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)