Build homes, build communities

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte–In rebuilding the lives of victims of calamities, you are not just building homes but you are building communities.
This is the message of the seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and Climate Change Adaptation, organized by bishops and Social Action Committees from the Davao, Digos, Tagum, and Mati (DADITAMA) ecclesiastical subregion.
Fr. Danny Fuentes, Director of the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Mati said that in their effort to rebuild the lives of those families affected by typhoon Pablo in 2012, by building houses, they are also building communities.
The province of Davao Oriental is greatly affected by typhoon Pablo and the Diocese organized a project to rebuild houses for the typhoon victims.
Fr. Emerson Luego, the project head of the Balik-bahay, Balik-kapilya program of the Diocese of Tagum, presented the aftermath of Typhoon Pablo that happened via an audio-video presentation.
It can be remembered that the Dioceses of Tagum and Mati are two of the areas that were greatly affected by Typhoon Pablo last December 4, 2012. A number of individuals were killed and properties were damaged. Some towns were not reached right away due to the damage of bridges.
He said that there is a great reason why calamities happen. Calamities happen to bring-out the goodness of people. He also presented some reflections to ponder after the calamities happened.
The seminar, held at the Holy Rosary Shrine, Agan, Barangay Magdum, Tagum City, August 28 to 30, also gathered different speakers from different private and government organizations who discussed about the immediate actions for calamities and disasters.
On the first day, the Diocese of Mati facilitated the whole session on the topics: Emergency Disaster Response and Coordination, Understanding the Philippines Disaster System; and Global and Local Humanitarian Systems and Protocol. Ms. Fatima Gaye J. Molina, one of the resource speakers, said “we should encourage everyone to participate in planning how to prepare and coordinate things together to lessen the disastrous effects of a certain calamity.”
She also discussed one’s role in the community when calamities strike a certain area saying, “Alam naman natin na ang pinaka tumutulong sa atin sa panahon ng kalamidad. Ito ‘yong mga taong nasa paligid natin, ‘yong mga kapitbahay natin”.
“So dapat kilalanin po natin kung sino ‘yong mga taong mapaglapitan natin pag kailangan natin ng tulong.” These statements of Ms. Molina gave emphasis on our major role as one community—that everyone is called to help one another in times of disasters and calamities.
On the second day, the Diocese of Digos facilitated the discussions on the Disaster Science and Climate Change in the Philippines/Mindanao, and Collaborative Engagement with the Scientific Community in Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction. Lastly, on the third day, the Archdiocese of Davao facilitated the discussions on Diocesan and Sub-Regional DRRM Planning. The Diocese of Tagum is the event host and over-all facilitating committee.
According to Fr. Leonardo Dublan, Jr., the head of the organizing committee, the seminar is a preparation for the upcoming DADITAMA Meeting at the Diocese of Mati, Davao Oriental on September 3-4.
He added that Fr. Alan Joie Nuñez, Fr. Danny Fuentes, Arlene Rey, and Vicky Anghag from the pastoral office and social action centers of the DADITAMA subregion spearheaded the organizing of this important event especially that the Davao region is one of those affected by the recent calamities. (@dcherald)