The College of Health Sciences and the Department of Languages and Humanities of the College of Arts and Sciences successfully conducted an extension activity focused on Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CB-DRRM) in Quimmarayan Elementary School, Quimmarayan, Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur.

This community-based DRRM initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that local communities are better equipped to face the challenges posed by natural and man-made disasters.

The activity emphasized the importance of building local resilience through collective action, practical training, and knowledge sharing. With natural disasters becoming more frequent and severe, strengthening community-level disaster preparedness is vital in minimizing risks and ensuring the safety and well-being of residents.

Prof. Bernadeth F. Canoy of the Department of Languages and Humanities conveyed the rationale for the activity. She stressed that the objective of the activity was to raise awareness and empower community members to take proactive steps in disaster risk reduction, enhancing their capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

In the activity, the experienced professors from CHS, namely: Vincent Viste, Karen David, Ruth Regina Corpuz, Evelyn Rafanan, Rebecca Rios, Almira Gonzales, and Lorena Darisan, introduced the concept of disaster risk reduction management and increased participants’ awareness of disaster risks and the importance of disaster preparedness at the community level.

The training session was attended by teachers, barangay officials, and parents. The post-training evaluations showed that the collaborative nature of the workshop fostered a stronger sense of community spirit.

Article by Bernadeth F. Canoy