LAOAG CITY — Residents in flood-prone areas of Solsona, Ilocos Norte have lauded the town government for upgrading its capacity for disaster preparedness.
Part of this is the acquisition by the municipal government of a brand new six-wheeler truck with crane, which is now on standby in case of a calamity.
In previous years, the municipal government’s rescue team only depended on old heavy trucks to transport typhoon victims to evacuation areas or to safer grounds.
“We purchased the rescue vehicle to promote resiliency and to ensure zero casualty during calamities,” said Solsona Mayor Alexander Calucag on Tuesday.
In time for the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month this July, hundreds of government employees, municipal and village officials, students and personnel from public and private organizations and agencies joined the “Walk for Resilience” around the major thoroughfares of Poblacion village on Monday.
Organized by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the local government unit of Solsona, the activity highlighted the need for the general public to be disaster-conscious, and to take the necessary precaution before a natural calamity or a state of emergency strikes.
The National Disaster Consciousness Month is observed every July by virtue of Executive Order No. 137 signed on Aug. 10, 1999 by then President Joseph Estrada.
In 1988, the first week of July was declared National Disaster Consciousness Week but the observance of the occasion was extended to a month to include man-made disasters and other emergencies. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
