Education chief reminds DepEd execs of roles in disaster alert, response

MANILA, Philippines—Education Secretary Armin Luistro has reminded agency officials of their roles in times of “hydro-meteorological (hydro-met) hazards” or extreme weather disturbances that usually result in floods and landslides.

In a December 15 memorandum, Luistro encouraged all officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) to go by the plan to possibly avert or mitigate the effects of tropical cyclones, floods, storm surges, tornadoes and landslides caused by heavy rains.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Heading the education cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), DepEd is primarily tasked to ensure the safety of learners and its personnel and provide continued access to quality education of affected students.

The NDRRMC circular “National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) for Hydro-meteorological Hazards,” according to the education secretary, seeks to increase the capacity of its member-agencies to respond to disasters and other emergencies.

Citing the circular, Luistro said, “The occurrence of tropical cyclones and flooding has significant effects to the education sector.”

He further said, “The education cluster is one of the clusters responding to the needs of the affected population and areas during hydro-meteorological disasters. The safety of students and personnel during the hydro-meteorological hazards, with or without early warning, is the top priority of the education cluster.”

Luistro explained, “This plan, as the first in the series of a multi-hazard NDRP, specifies relevant activities on disaster response, roles and responsibilities of member-agencies and organizations on preparedness as well as their functions during disaster and emergency phase.”

He said that DepEd’s field officers, as members of the different local disaster risk reduction and management councils (LDRRMCs), should take on the responsibilities and tasks in the NDRP for the education cluster.

The education secretary concluded, “In view of this, DepEd officials as members of their respective LDRRMCs are enjoined to implement identified preparedness measures contained herein towards the realization of an effective and responsive disaster and emergency response.”

Among such functions are: The issuance of alerts and warnings based on weather bulletins and advisories; the conduct of pre-disaster and post-disaster assessment on the impact and needs, including psycho-social support and services, of affected education personnel, learners and schools; the provision of temporary learning spaces as well as teaching and learning materials to allow the continuation of classes; and the mobilization of resources to provide help to all affected education personnel.