The UP System Administration and various UP units and allied organizations showcased their disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) initiatives in a fair held in the UP Quezon Hall Amphitheater on September 10, 2018.
The first “Katatagan” or resiliency fair featured exhibit and demonstration booths of: the UP Manila DRRM Committee, the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) and Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH), Mu Sigma Fraternity, the UPD University Student Council, the Quezon City DRRM Office, the UP Diliman Emergency Response Team (DERT), Rice Watch Action Network, the Philippine Red Cross Quezon City Chapter, the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Up and Ready, and the UP Vanguard K9 Unit.
“This is just the start of a series to make sure that the UP community is prepared for and safe from the challenges of forces of nature,” Prof. Jeanette Yasol-Naval, director of the fair organizer, Padayon Public Service Office, said.
Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay, who heads both UPRI and NOAH, and UP Regent Frederick Mikhail Farolan, a UP Vanguard, delivered keynote presentations. Lagmay challenged UP students to break out of complacency and actively prepare themselves to learn and lead in saving lives in times of disaster. Farolan encouraged students to contribute to CCA-DRRM by pursuing CCA-DRRM topics in their course research.
They were followed by UP Diliman unit representatives who spoke of CCA-DRRM initiatives in their respective units, in terms of self-preparedness, research, and public service. They came from: the College of Engineering, College of Music, College of Education, Center for International Studies, College of Mass Communication, College of Social Work and Community Development, Department of Geography, National College of Public Administration and Governance, National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development, and the University Library.
According to Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa, the institutionalization of resiliency in the University has gained much ground since the administration of Alfredo Pascual, harnessing University expertise in geo-sciences, health, and interdisciplinary culture. He cited: the establishment of the UP Padayon Public Service Office, UPRI, UP-NOAH, and CCA-DRRM centers in constituent universities; the publication of books; integration of CCA-DRRM in General Education and National Service Training Program courses; and, the conduct of conferences and fire and earthquake drills.
In a speech read by Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Wendell Capili, President Danilo Concepcion stressed the need to be resilient as a community and to help communities achieve resilience. UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jerwin Agpaoa suggested inclusion of efforts for “pagpapatatag ng loob”, building fortitude in individuals.
The fair was attended mostly by students. Participants were given free food and water, information materials, first aid kits, and raffle prizes. Musikang Bayan, the UP Repertory Company, Mikrokosmos, Koyang Jess Santiago, and Joel Costa Malabanan performed musical numbers. Prof. Glecy Atienza and the Guro sa Sining ng Bayan Inc. performed their musical compositions on earthquakes.
The Padayon Public Service Office, under the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, co-organized the fair with: UP System offices UPRI and UP-NOAH; the UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs; Office of Initiatives for Culture and the Arts; University Student Council; Emergency Response Team and National Service Training Program; and, the UP Vanguard Inc.
Text and photo by UP Media and Public Relations Office (MPRO)