When disaster strikes

Are the GKKs prepared should disasters strike in Davao?

Maybe some are and others are not. That is why the Archdiocesan Social Action Center of Davao (ASAC) calls all Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) to be prepared should disaster strikes.
Last September 13, ASAC Director Fr. Bong Dublan, together with other church and school leaders, gathered once again at the Our Lady of Assumption Parish, F. Torres St., Davao City to discuss further the plans and actions in plotting the disaster preparedness and risk reduction programs in the Archdiocese of Davao.
The plans were further evaluated to bring and impart disaster and risk management to GKK (Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban) level. True to its rationale, a disaster-resilient Parishes/GKKs promoting the spirit of Love and Service, the committee further aims to strengthen its course in promoting full awareness of climate change and its global impact.
The follow-up meeting happened days after the September 3-4, 2013 DaDiTaMa meeting in Mati, Davao Oriental where concerns were brought together to create a dynamic and integrated program, not only in parish level but in the entire community.
Some of the guiding principles that fuel this initiative are the following:
– Journeying in Faith, Working as Church in the Archdiocese of Davao
– Upholding community participation (GKKs)
– Coordination and Collaboration of various institutions within the Archdiocese of Davao
– Promoting co-responsibility, transparency and accountability
– Advocating cultural and gender sensitivity
– Multi-sectoral Networking
It can be recalled that priests, religious and laity last August 28-30, 2013, from the different church and school leaders in Davao, Digos, Tagum and Mati (DADITAMA) ecclesiastical subregions gathered together in a three-day seminar on risk reduction, disaster preparedness and climate adaptation at the Regina Rosarii Shine, Agan, Brgy. Magdum, Tagum City. The said seminar aimed to bring complete and thorough awareness on how to respond to calamities and disasters in the community level.
During the DADITAMA meeting in Mati last September 3-4, Fr. Dublan reported to the bishops, priests, religious and laity that the Diocese of Digos and Archdiocese of Davao want to learn about the best practices regarding disaster preparedness.
Fr. Dublan said the four dioceses want to learn the best practices from one another how to respond to disasters especially in terms of evacuation, relief good distribution, spiritual counseling for victims, and relocation of victims.
He said they will look and review all existing plans from the four dioceses and continue all programs started in the respective dioceses but all plans will have a disaster preparedness component.
In his report, Fr. Dublan also said that all programs will reach the grassroots or the basic ecclesial communities who are mostly affected in times of disasters.
Meanwhile, in San Pablo Parish in Davao City, the parish social action conducts seminars on disaster preparedness in barangays especially those affected by the flashflood last 2011.
They have also installed early warning systems in coordination with the barangay officials to prepare communities when water level from rivers nearby rise.
Social Action Committee members of the Archdiocese of Davao gathered together last September 13, 2013 in a round-table discussionto further talk about disaster and calamity preparedness. Are the GKKs prepared should disasters strike in Davao?
Maybe some are and others are not. That is why the Archdiocesan Social Action Center of Davao (ASAC) calls all Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) to be prepared should disaster strikes.
Last September 13, ASAC Director Fr. Bong Dublan, together with other church and school leaders, gathered once again at the Our Lady of Assumption Parish, F. Torres St., Davao City to discuss further the plans and actions in plotting the disaster preparedness and risk reduction programs in the Archdiocese of Davao.
The plans were further evaluated to bring and impart disaster and risk management to GKK (Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban) level. True to its rationale, a disaster-resilient Parishes/GKKs promoting the spirit of Love and Service, the committee further aims to strengthen its course in promoting full awareness of climate change and its global impact.
The follow-up meeting happened days after the September 3-4, 2013 DaDiTaMa meeting in Mati, Davao Oriental where concerns were brought together to create a dynamic and integrated program, not only in parish level but in the entire community.
Some of the guiding principles that fuel this initiative are the following:
– Journeying in Faith, Working as Church in the Archdiocese of Davao
– Upholding community participation (GKKs)
– Coordination and Collaboration of various institutions within the Archdiocese of Davao
– Promoting co-responsibility, transparency and accountability
– Advocating cultural and gender sensitivity
– Multi-sectoral Networking
It can be recalled that priests, religious and laity last August 28-30, 2013, from the different church and school leaders in Davao, Digos, Tagum and Mati (DADITAMA) ecclesiastical subregions gathered together in a three-day seminar on risk reduction, disaster preparedness and climate adaptation at the Regina Rosarii Shine, Agan, Brgy. Magdum, Tagum City. The said seminar aimed to bring complete and thorough awareness on how to respond to calamities and disasters in the community level.
During the DADITAMA meeting in Mati last September 3-4, Fr. Dublan reported to the bishops, priests, religious and laity that the Diocese of Digos and Archdiocese of Davao want to learn about the best practices regarding disaster preparedness.
Fr. Dublan said the four dioceses want to learn the best practices from one another how to respond to disasters especially in terms of evacuation, relief good distribution, spiritual counseling for victims, and relocation of victims.
He said they will look and review all existing plans from the four dioceses and continue all programs started in the respective dioceses but all plans will have a disaster preparedness component.
In his report, Fr. Dublan also said that all programs will reach the grassroots or the basic ecclesial communities who are mostly affected in times of disasters.
Meanwhile, in San Pablo Parish in Davao City, the parish social action conducts seminars on disaster preparedness in barangays especially those affected by the flashflood last 2011.
They have also installed early warning systems in coordination with the barangay officials to prepare communities when water level from rivers nearby rise.
Social Action Committee members of the Archdiocese of Davao gathered together last September 13, 2013 in a round-table discussionto further talk about disaster and calamity preparedness. Photo by Perry Paul Lamanilao.