Stakeholders join disaster risk mapping for day care center

By Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU CITY, March 11 (PIA) -- Nineteen stakeholders from Barangay San Isidro and San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu have gathered recently to conduct a disaster risk mapping for the area surrounding the future Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund (DACF) Day Care Center in the said barangays.

Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) with the parent representatives, barangay councilors and tanods, and day care teachers initiated the mapping.

Members from the Camotes Island Emergency Response Team (CIERT) also joined the activity and provided expertise and resource on the activity.

The participatory mapping is part of the day care construction program of DACF of RAFI, wherein the fund works with barangay stakeholders to come up with a plan to identify and minimize risks and disasters in the community surrounding the day care centers.

DACF chair Amaya Aboitiz explained that the goal of the planning session was to involve the community in ensuring the safety of the youngest stakeholders, as well as to contribute to the barangay’s overall preparedness for disasters.

During the session, community stakeholders gained knowledge and skills on identifying hazards and vulnerabilities in the area surrounding the day care center.

They also assessed their current capacity and readiness to prevent and prepare for the effects of these hazards.

Participants then walked around the site to observe the area surrounding the day care center and to locate hazards and vulnerabilities.

These observations were translated into a map, showing the various areas of risk which needs to be addressed to ensure the safety of the children at the day care center. (MBCN/HFG-PIA7)