THE Cebu provincial government and a nongovernment organization have joined hands to push for a disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction program in Cebu Province.
Aloysius Cañete, executive director of the A2D Project-Research Group for Alternatives to Development Inc. (A2D), said persons with disabilities (PWDs) are among those at highest risk during disasters.
“They, along with senior citizens, are oftentimes overlooked in times of emergency,” he said during the weekly Kapistorya Forum yesterday.
A2D has done emergency response and rehabilitation work in northern Cebu after supertyphoon Yolanda ravaged the province in 2013.
Cañete cited a study conducted by the United Nations across 137 countries which shows that 85 percent of the respondents have not taken part in any community-based disaster risk reduction processes.
Furthermore, he said the study also mentions that emergency services provided in the wake of Yolanda were “not sensitive” to PWDs and other at-risk groups.
Cañete cited the lack of facilities that cater to PWDs like grab-rails in comfort rooms in evacuation centers, ramps and sign language interpreters during disaster preparedness seminars, among others.
This goes not only for the government, but for all humanitarian emergency actors as well.
To bridge this gap, the Cebu Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (CDIDDR) Network will be formed.
The network will be composed of Disability People’s Organizations (DPO) in Cebu, the provincial government, civil society organizations, local NGOs, the academe, government agencies and the media, among others.
“We are empowering PWDs to participate in all the processes regarding DRR,” said Cañete.
On Oct. 16, the network will be launched with the theme “Promoting Disability-Inclusive DRR for Resilient, Inclusive, and Equitable Philippines.”
Erlinda Parame, project coordinator, said the network aims to mainstream disability-inclusive DRR in the province, and eventually in the country.
This project is the first of its kind in the Philippines.
To achieve the network’s goals, it will push for disability-sensitive recommendations for provisions under R.A. 10121 or the National DRR Management Act.
Anytime this month, legislators are set to conduct a “sunset review” on the law.
Parame said the network aims to establish PWD representation in local DRRM councils as well as in the national level.
Julius Regner, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) spokesman, said Capitol’s role is to train local government units in responding to the needs of PWDs during emergencies.
The PDRRMO has also been holding trainings and seminars for PWDs, encouraging them to actively participate in the DRRM process.