MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, March 16 (PIA) -- The Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RCBW-ARMM) gears up women to tackle disasters, both natural and man-made, through a one-day symposium on disaster risk reduction held on Wednesday as part of the region’s celebration of women’s month.
Helen Rojas-Balawag, RCBW-ARMM chairperson, said the activity is designed to capacitate women, who are among the more vulnerable sectors during disasters, with important and lifesaving knowledge.
She said it is vital that women in the ARMM know how to face up to disasters given the susceptibility of the region to calamities such as flooding and armed conflict.
The activity, according to her, also aims to clarify the roles and responsibilities of women in disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) efforts so that “women instead of being a vulnerable sector will become a significant partner in DRRM operations.”
Amihilda Sangcopan-Abdulhakim, Chief of Staff of ARMM’s Office of the Regional Governor, urged women in the region to be “a dependable sector capable of being prepared for any disaster that may come.”
“You have evolved from the confines of homes to help build gender-responsive resilient communities as a formidable force to weather climate change and reduce risks of global disasters,” Abdulhakim said.
Participants were given an orientation on the DRRM system in the Philippines and in the ARMM including Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010, which lays down the roles and responsibilities of local government units, government agencies, and other sectors in DRRM efforts, as well as the DRRM general framework and plan.
RA 10121 places more emphasis on reducing hazards, vulnerabilities, and exposures to potential disasters while at the same time increasing the capacity of different sectors in responding to any form of calamities.
Moreover, ARMM Officer-in-Charge (OIC)-Governor Mujiv Hataman and OIC Vice-Governor and concurrent DSWD-ARMM Secretary Hadja Bainon Karon distributed livelihood and other forms of assistance to victims of different calamities in the region.
A number of emergency shelters totaling to P3.6 million will be put up by the regional government to house some 360 flood victims in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. The two OICs also released the initial P2 million-fund for the “Hope for the Badjaos” project in Barangay Bulibuli, Sumisip, Basilan, which is intended to provide decent housing to 40 families belonging to the Badjao tribe in the area.
In addition, 100 conflict-affected families from the town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao received livelihood assistance under the Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran Project, totaling to P1 million.
Karon said the ARMM government will be providing more assistance to victims of calamities in the ARMM in the coming weeks in hopes of giving them an opportunity to start anew.
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