NDRRMC, NYC sign MOA on youth participation in disaster response

NDRRMC Executive Director Alex Pama and NYC Commissioner Jose Sixto Dantes III sign a memorandum of agreement on Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo that allows the inclusion of youth in disaster management. FRANCES MANGOSING/INQUIRER.net

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the National Youth Commission (NYC) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would allow the youth to collaborate in disaster response initiatives.

NDRRMC Executive Director Alexander Pama and NYC Commissioner Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III signed the MOA on Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo.

“We at NYC deeply appreciate the initiative of the NDRRMC. It can’t be denied that the wave of disasters in the last couple of years makes this focus logical, necessary and, most importantly, timely. Time has come,” Dantes said in his remarks.

The MOA will allow the youth to go beyond, not only as relief good packers, but disaster responders as well, Dantes said.

Part of the MOA will formalize the participation of youth in conceptualizing, planning, and immersing themselves in preparing for disasters.

“During the time of Ondoy, our group wanted to help out, and that time, we were questioning how will we be able to extend our help—where will we go, will our help reach out to the victims… This [MOA] centralizes everything. We will be the focal youth agency that will be with all these things,” Dantes said.

“[Office of Civil Defense]-NDRRMC recognizes the potential of the Filipino youth as change agents and would-be great leaders one day. This agreement signifies the commitment of the National Council of the Filipino youth to collaborate undertaking DRRM initiatives and build safer, adaptive, and resilient communities nationwide,” said Pama. Frances Mangosing/JE