10 Schools in Cebu Chosen for Japanese Disaster Management Program

Ten schools in Cebu Province will benefit from a Japanese disaster management program.

SEEDS Asia, a Japan-based non-government organization, partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) for the school-based disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) program.

There are 10 pilot schools in Cebu province under the program of SEEDS Asia.

The schools will receive training, equipment, and manuals on disaster management.

The 10 schools are found in the cities of Bogo, Carcar, Danao, Lapulapu, Mandaue, Naga, Toledo, and Cebu Province –Daanbantayan.

Dr. Theron Aranas, Division DRRM Coordinator of DepEd Cebu City, said the program, which started in March last year, had made significant reformations in the disaster management of Cebu City Central School.

The teachers at the City Central School underwent training and other capacity-building workshops.

“The school initially had only one exit gate, after the initial trainings they now have a specific plan and another alternative exit,” Aranas said.

This April, there will be 120 teachers who will undergo a five-day training on DRRM in schools.

Yo Kunieda, Philippine Country Representative of SEEDS Asia, said the program covers preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

“Management is very important because it is a matter of life and death. We want to impart what we know in Japan here in the Philippines,” Kunieda said.

She mentioned that three tiers are needed to achieve comprehensive safety: safety building, school disaster risk reduction management, and risk reduction education.

SEEDS Asia received the project funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-Kansai International Center.

The other schools include Beatriz D. Durano Memorial National High School in Danao City, Daanbantayan Central Elementary School, Marigondon National High School in Lapulapu City, City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy, Uling Elementary School in Naga City, Paknaan National High School in Mandaue City, Carcar City Central Elementary School, Talavera Elementary School in Toledo City, and Tabunoc Central School in Talisay City. (fcc/PIA7-Cebu)