Oct. 1, 2010 - Workshop on Community-Based Warning System

CNDR is part of Our Lighthouse Alliance, a consortium of 15 organizations involved in the rehabilitation of Typhoon Ondoy victims. In August 2010, the Alliance has started implementing a community based disaster preparedness project called “Building Noah’s Ark in Flood Prone Communities” or simply Noah’s Ark Project.  It aims to find a safe spot in a high risk area and develop it into an evacuation center where people will feel safe and secure; to retrofit schools and other public places into suitable evacuation areas; and to develop capacities of vulnerable communities to prepare for flooding.

The Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) provided the funding for the 4-month project amounting to P1.8M, while CNDR and Habitat for Humanity will handle the project implementation.  CNDR is in-charge of the capacity-building activities and Habitat for Humanity will install common toilet and bath facilities, and community kitchen.

One of the project sites for the pilot implementation is Brgy. Malanday in Marikina City, one of the most affected communities during the typhoon Ondoy .  The other project site is a rural municipality which is still being identified as of September 30,  2010.

The first activity in Brgy. Malanday  was the “Seminar-Workshop on the Reorganization of the Local Disaster Coordinating Council into Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee” conducted on September 4. Twenty eight individuals participated in the workshop mostly members of the Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council (BDCC) and   representatives of the school’s Disaster Brigade. The roles and membership of the task units and committees were also identified during the workshop.

Specific capacity building activities which will be conducted by CNDR in the two project sites are: risk mapping to identify and delineate high, moderate and low risks and safe areas; contingency planning and institutionalization of local real time Early Warning System on flood, communication protocol and evacuation procedures; formulation of contingency plans; simulation exercise/drill;  and preparation of community based disaster preparedness manuals on Early Warning System, Communication Protocol and Evacuation Procedures.