ILOILO City — Western Visayas has officially launched its observance of the 38th National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) with a renewed call for year-round disaster preparedness, kicking off the month-long campaign with a tree-planting activity aimed at protecting the region’s critical watershed and reducing disaster risks.
Carrying the theme “Naghahanda at Kumikilos Tungo sa Panatag na Bagong Pilipinas,” the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6, formally opened the celebration by planting native tree seedlings at the Maasin Watershed in Barangay Daja, Maasin, Iloilo.
The activity was led by OCD regional director Raul Fernandez together with representatives from various member agencies of the RDRRMC, underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthening both environmental protection and disaster resilience.
Fernandez stressed that disaster preparedness extends far beyond emergency response operations.
“Building disaster resilience goes beyond emergency response,” Fernandez emphasized.
He said protecting critical ecosystems such as the Maasin Watershed is equally vital because healthy forests help reduce the risks of flooding, landslides, and other natural hazards while ensuring a sustainable water supply for surrounding communities.
The kickoff activity also highlighted the collective responsibility of government agencies and stakeholders in safeguarding lives and the environment through coordinated action.
Aside from the tree-planting activity, the RDRRMC has lined up a series of events throughout July to promote disaster awareness, preparedness, and community resilience across Western Visayas.
The observance of National Disaster Resilience Month is mandated under Executive Order No. 29, Series of 2017, which seeks to strengthen public awareness of disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
Among the scheduled regional activities are the Mobile Photography Contest from July 1 to 8 with the theme “Resilience,” a Poster Making Contest and awarding ceremony on July 11 at SM City Terminal Market in Iloilo City, the KABALAKA Expo from July 15 to 17 at Convention Drive in Megaworld, Mandurriao, a Kapihan sa PIA featuring Fernandez on July 22, and the Regional Rescuelympics from July 26 to 29 at the Binirayan Sports Complex in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.
The Regional Rescuelympics will showcase the capabilities, skills, and interoperability of local disaster response teams through various emergency response scenarios designed to test their readiness and operational proficiency./PN
