BACOLOD City – Mayor Greg Gasataya is planning to conduct disaster preparedness training for volunteer rescuers in all 61 barangays of the city to ensure swift and effective emergency response at the grassroots level.
This initiative follows the successful fire and earthquake drill held on Thursday, July 31, at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), spearheaded by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) as part of the culmination of the National Disaster Resilience Month 2025.
The simulation exercise (simex) aimed to promote safety awareness, preparedness, and effective emergency response among city employees and clients at the BCGC.
Mayor Gasataya, in his assessment, noted that the city government has demonstrated a high level of readiness, with appropriate emergency equipment available and support from non-government organizations. However, he emphasized that barangay-based rescuers must be prioritized for training and resource provision.
“Ang barangay guid ang una naga-respond kung may kalamidad, gani sila guid ang amon tutukan sa sini nga aspeto,” the mayor said.
Edward Ramirez, CDRRMO Chief Operations Officer, said the simex is conducted annually. This year, they chose the BCGC as the venue to evaluate how well employees and clients can respond in a real emergency situation.
“The BCGC receives a high volume of people during office hours. It is important for everyone to know the proper evacuation routes and protocols in case of disaster,” Ramirez explained.
This year’s National Disaster Resilience Month, observed throughout July, carried the theme “Kumikilos para sa Kahandaan, Kaligtasan, at Katatagan.” It emphasized that disaster resilience is a shared responsibility that requires multi-sectoral collaboration, aiming to raise public awareness and strengthen the country’s capacity to withstand and recover from calamities./PN
