Philippines: 'SHINE' polishes disaster preparedness of schools

City of Malolos, Bulacan -- Gearing forward to prevent yet another natural catastrophe that incurs millions of agricultural losses and hundreds of lives lost, the Provincial Government of Bulacan on Monday launched a disaster preparedness program that will start on schools in the province.

The program dubbed as the "1st School Hydrological Information Network" (SHINE) Conference, an innovative program geared toward enhancing disaster awareness among students, preventing the loss of life, and protecting properties by achieving and maintaining high-level school preparedness.

According to Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, also the chairman of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), the said program aims at addressing the issues on global warming, particularly focusing on awareness to flood, a major, natural disaster that infests the agricultural province of Bulacan annually.

The SHINE program supports the Department of Education's thrust on a climate change-enhanced curriculum.

"Disaster awareness should begin in schools and consequently, formulate mitigating or adaptable ways in their own capacity and level to address related issues," the provincial government said in a statement.

PDRRMC executive officer Felicisima L. Mungcal said School Rainfall Observation stations will be put up at the Akle High School, Doña Remedios Trinidad High School, John J. Russell High School, Angat National High School, F. Halili High School, Vedasto R. Santiago High School, Norzagaray National High School, San Jose del Monte High School and Binagbag High School.

Mungcal added that the SHINE program will also support community information through the Community-based Flood Warning System and the community's disaster awareness programs.