Student leaders get involve in DRRM

Sherry Lyn Lamsen-Orjalo

The Supreme Student Government (SSG) of Pangasinan National High School (PNHS)
participated in the planning, preparation and actual school conduct of earthquake drill on
June 21, 2018, 2PM in observance of the 2nd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake
Drill (NSED).
The SSG Officers together with their advisers Maria Eliza R. Pioquinto, Liezel E. Ferrer,
and Maria Eireen S. Penulliar were divided and grouped to different School DRRM Teams
including the teaching and non-teaching personnel of PNHS.
“We included them in the planning and decision making because aside from being a part
of their leadership skills training, the youth's involvement in disaster preparedness and
response is important to build more resilient communities. We need people who can lead.
We need people who will share their knowledge on what to do in case of emergencies. We
need people who can educate properly the people in our community. Our SSG officers are
the most competent students who can relay and teach the proper way of executing disaster
preparedness,” Pioquinto said.
According to Liezel Ferrer, the age and majority of the SSG officers possess mental
alertness and physical strength to respond to disasters especially in reducing or even
eradicating casualties.
“Sila po ang may pinakamalaking bilang sa paaralan, sila mismo ang pinaglilingkuran
natin kaya marapat lamang na imulat natin sila sa mga realidad ng buhay. Ang kanilang
kahandaan at kapanatagan pagdating ng sakuna ang magpapatatag sa kanila para
harapin ang hamon ng kalikasan. Ang impluwensiya ng mga student leaders natin sa
karamihan ng mga mag-aaral ay malaking bagay para maibsan ang kaba at maging ligtas
ang lahat. Mas magiging epektibo ang paghahanda kung nauunawaan nila ang kalagayan
at pangangailangan ng kapwa nila kabataan tungo sa isang ligtas at payapang
kinabukasan,” she stated.
For Grade 12 student and PNHS SSG President Kurt Gerald Torres, students’ involvement
and participation in the activity can create a huge impact in disaster risk reduction.
“We helped in information dissemination. It is our role and contribution to the studentry
and community,” Kurt said.
The youth can greatly help during disaster through the proper use of social media. They
can be informed of the situation on the ground and share it in real-time making it easier for
other people especially authorities to respond during disasters.
“Yung pag-post o repost nila ng information ay malaking tulong na sa disaster awareness,
prevention and respond,” Penulliar said.

Secondary schools in Lingayen conducts earthquake drill

Sherry Lyn Lamsen-Orjalo
Pangasinan National High School (PNHS), the largest public school in Lingayen,
successfully conducted an earthquake drill on June 21, 2018 as part and in compliance to
the 2nd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill. The drill aimed to test schools’
preparedness to manage an emergency that is likely to happen during school days.
The drill was organized by the DRRM team of the school with the active involvement of
the Supreme Student Government (SSG) officers of PNHS in partnership with the Local
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) of Lingayen.
Upon sounding of the school siren, more than 7000 and almost 300 teaching personnel
quickly assumed the “Duck, Cover and Hold” position. The students waited for the siren
to stop before evacuating in a buddy system to the football field of the Narciso Ramos
Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) which was identified as the nearby open space area that
can accommodate such big population of students.
Dr. Elvira Viray, school principal, said that the school regularly observe this quarterly to
ensure that students and teachers are ready in the event of a destructive earthquake.
“This is a challenge for all of us. Our capacity to protect ourselves and promote a culture
of safety and resilient schools must be shared to families and communities through
education, trainings, and sharing of information,” Viray stated.
A similar earthquake drill was conducted by Pangasinan School of Arts and Trades,
Estanza National High School, Domalandan Center Integrated School, Malawa Integrated
School and Lasip National High School in the same municipality wherein a great number
of students, teaching and non-teaching personnel participated. This practice was also been
done in the entire country as part of the nationwide campaign and awareness for disaster
preparedness.