By Apipa Bagumbaran
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The youth sector could play a vital role in strengthening the country’s disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) efforts, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-10.
In a press conference for the 2nd Mindanao Youth Convergence (MYP) held on Nov. 19 in Mallberry Business Hotel, in the city, OCD Regional Director Antonio Sugarol highlighted the potential of the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC), which includes both school-based and community-based units.
He said organizing and training graduates from the National Service Training Program (NSTP) could provide a ready workforce for community-based DRRM efforts.
“The Office of Civil Defense is tasked to organize a disaster risk reduction and management network for the entire country. And just imagine if we can tap the largest and most important sector, our youth, in that network? Ang laking asset na madadala natin sa ating (It’s a tremendous asset that we can bring to our) collaboration for disaster risk reduction and management,” Sugarol said.
He also emphasized how crucial the cooperation agreement is among the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), OCD, and other collaborating partners.
“By signing the memorandum of cooperation with partner agencies, stakeholders, and the Mindanao Development Authority, we can now have better engagement with our youth sector. We can encourage and train them. If we can bring this youth sector to our group, that is a huge advantage,” he said.
At the opening ceremony of the MYP, Sugarol underscored the importance of applying DRRM principles to critical sectors such as water, energy, and food to strengthen and safeguard these essential systems.
He noted that youth could play a pivotal role in ensuring the resilience of these sectors during emergencies.
“We highly value occasions such as this, as they provide a platform to connect more individuals to encourage them to champion disaster risk reduction management, both within their own communities and in the organizations or groups they are part of,” he added. (APB/PIA-10)
