Building Resilience: Univeristy of Santo Tomas NSTP- CWTS Disaster Risk

Reduction Management
By: Charisse Len Umil

Several disasters has struck the country in the past years such as the
2013 Bohol earthquake having a recorded magnitude of 7.2, Typhoon
Yolanda killing at least 10,000 people in Leyte, and the viral video of a
tornado also damaging about a hundred houses Manila. The Philippines was
declared the fourth most disaster prone country in the world last 2015,
having 271 disasters recorded 20 years prior. It was reported that 90 percent
of all major disasters was caused by weather-related occurrences and that
these weather-related disasters are increasing worldwide. The United Nations
Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) data showed $1.9 trillion in
financial losses attributable to extreme weather events.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC)

has developed a framework through Republic Act 10121, which provided for
a "comprehensive, all hazards, multi-sectorial, inter-agency and community-
based approach to disaster risk reduction and management. The Disaster
Risk Reduction Management (DRRM), last June 2011 that was integrated into
National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan. Four DRRM aspects,
namely: prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and
rehabilitation, and recovery are covered in this plan.

A trained disaster risk reduction team has been holding this timely
seminar/ workshop, with the partnership of the University of Santo Tomas
NSTP- CWTS; to teach the UST students enrolled in the NSTP course the
basics of risk reduction management. The workshop was in two parts, first
was introductions of different situations and demonstrations by the trained
team. This part consisted of demonstrations of what should be done during
fires, sinking ships and what to do when off board, including how to save a
man overboard, earthquakes, when and how to rappel, and basic first aid for
common injuries and conditions. Everyone was provided for a t-bandage
giving everyone a chance to do the splinting and dressing of the imaginary
wounds depending on the situation or accident.

The second part was where the participation of the audience was
required. The students were grouped and had to do the different techniques
they have taught in the first part of the workshop. Every student had the
chance to throw the rope the right way in case of a man off board.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, also known as CPR was also taught and every
student had the chance to do full rounds of CPR. In addition to this,
emergency rescue and transfer methods were demonstrated. At the end of
the workshop, different drills were given to different groups to assess our
skill for splinting and bandaging, also in the different types of emergency
rescue and transfer techniques.

An earthquake having a magnitude of 7.2 generated by the West Fault

Valley has been anticipated to strike Metro Manila and its nearby provinces.
The University of Santo Tomas located in Metro Manila is a disaster prone
area, nonetheless the university has been preparing for these disasters and
has been doing fire and earthquake drills, preparing its students and staff for
what may come.

Sources:
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/08/14/tornado-hits-manila.html
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/524569/10-deadliest-natural-disasters-in-the-
philippines
http://www.gov.ph/laginghanda/updates-cebu-and-bohol-earthquake/
http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/43819-fast-facts-ndrrmc
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/weather/545760/philippines-4th-
most-disaster-prone-country-in-the-world-un-
report/story/#sthash.NTJFCJWE.dpuf