Yolanda’s 10th year
TACLOBAN CITY – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in partnership with the Tingog party-list hosted the 2nd Resilience Ride as part of the commemorative program of the onslaught of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ exactly 10 years ago.
The resilience ride was participated by about 500 riders who are members of various organizations in Eastern Visayas and personnel from various government agencies such as the 8th Infantry Division, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Department of Interior and Local Government.
The Resilience Ride held last Saturday (Nov. 4) started at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, this city, going to Ormoc City, Baybay City, Abuyog town then to Rizal Plaza in Tacloban or a total of 264 kilometers distance of travel.
OCD Regional Director Lord Byron Torrecarion said that the resilience ride is not only for remembering what happened during typhoon Yolanda but also aims to highlight the contribution of riders during disaster response.
“Sometimes yung four-wheel natin hindi makapasok sa areas especially every after disaster. Odette had told us that, so this is one way of letting them know that we value the, and in case of any disaster we will be asking for their assistance,” he said.
Torrecarion added that the activity also aims to increase resiliency awareness in the region not only among people but also to the local government units and government agencies.
Ten years now since super typhoon Yolanda devastated Eastern Visayas and other parts of the Visayas, teaching resiliency remains to be a continuing process to ensure that this will not be forgotten by the people.
“When we rest on our laurel that is sometimes we fell short, that is why it needs to be a continuous process. We need to be aware, we need to be updated with new trends,” Torrecarion said.
Aside from the Resilience Ride, the OCD together with its partners agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police as an on-going exhibit at Robinsons Marasbaras featuring various disaster response equipment like satellite phones, two-way radio, search and rescue equipment, food packs and non-food packs assistance and camp management design.
The OCD is also hosting a two-day Resilience Forum at the Leyte Normal University guest includes United Nation Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzales, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, Mayor Alfred Romualdez, among others.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
