National Disaster Week rites set

[Balita News Services]

CEBU CITY, June 29 (PNA)--The week long observance of Natural
Disaster Consciousness Week in Central Visayas kicks off on Thursday,
July 1 with activities at Camp Sergio Osmena Sr. in Cebu City and other
localities in the region.

PNP Regional Director Danilo Flores, chairman of the Regional
Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), said the Cebu observance will
start with a holy mass at St. Ignatius chapel at 8:30 a.m., a motorcade
at 9:30 from Camp Sergio Osmena to Capitol and City Hall and back for
the recessional at PRO-7 quadrangle.

Other activities which will be conducted simultaneously by local
disaster councils in other cities and provinces are: a first aid

training by Siquijor MDCC; symposia/evacuation drills by Tagbilaran,
Cebu City, Cebu Province, and Mandaue disaster councils; maritime
disaster drill by Siquijor and Coastguard.

Traffic rules and regulations seminar by LTO/MDCC; fire drills
by Mandaue & Cebu City DCCs; film showing on disaster events by
Tagbilaran City DCC; evacuation drills & rescue demos by the Tipolo,
Mandaue rescue group; and a consultative meeting or hazard mapping by
San Fernando, Cebu MDCC.

Awareness activities about La Nina & other natural
disaster/calamities will likewise be conducted in various media forays
such as kapihans, radio guestings and press briefings.

Highlights of the week long observance is the distribution of
citations and awards to outstanding disaster councils, the MOA signing
with Care Foundation and RDCC; and the deputization of LGU personalities
as disaster action officers.

A civil defense special award will be given on July 7 during the
culminating program at Cebu Grand Hotel with RDC Chair and Bohol
Governor Rene Relampagos as guest.

Theme of the week long observance is "Kaligtasan ng Nasa Kamay
Mo, Maging Handa Masang Pilipino."(PNA) rgc /EB/PR/RE

PNA 06291738