GKK calamity responders to be organized

The Archdiocesan Social Action Center (ASAC) organized the 2nd round of Disaster Management Trainer’s Training at the San Pablo Parish Multi-Purpose Hall, last November 6-7, 2015. ASAC volunteer Mr. Wilfredo “Nonoy” Rodriguez facilitated the training. He impressed upon the participants how important their role is in disaster management in their own parishes and GKKS. Participants were core groups of the parishes with emergency response teams such as the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bangkal, St. Mary of Perpetual Rosary Parish in Buhangin, San Antonio de Padua Parish of Agdao, San Pablo Parish in Juna Subd., Matina, Fatima Parish in Fatima St., Boulevard, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Torres, Ascension of our Lord Parish in GSIS, Immaculate Conception Parish in Mintal, and Virgen delos Remedios Parish in Crossing Tayabas, Toril.

One of the seminar’s goal was to facilitate the organization of parish and GKK Disaster Action Response Team as part of the Archdiocesan’s thrust on Disaster Preparedness. “We are running the program independently as a church, but in close coordination with the LGU and anybody from civil society meaning NGOs or People’s Organizations, private sector and the academe. This second module gives great importance to the organizing, since the first module was primarily devoted to giving awareness and orientation, theology on stewardship on God’s creation, basic ecology inputs and ecosystems,” he added.

San Antonio Parish, GKK PSA/Secretary Agdao Demetrio Millalos, learned a lot from the training as he quipped, “daghan na among nakat-unan bahin sa kalamidad. Maayo man pud na siya aron makabalo pud sa kalihukan sa atong parokya. Naa mi nasunugan sauna. Nakahatag mi ug relief…Lahi ang daghang mutabang kay sayon lihukon,” he ended.

In addition, San Pablo Parish representative Jan Erick Telebangco stressed the need especially among the young parishioners to participate. There are Quick Response Team volunteers who were once gang members. He emphasized, “makaayo g’yud ni sa ilaha kay makatabang sa GKK ug parokya. Ang goal namo manguha mi ug out-of-school youth para madisiplina ug matabangan pud sila.”

Ascension of the Lord Parish PSP Estela Labor shared that “13 GKKs (like in Matina Pangi), out of 35 were visited. This time, GKK GERT will already be formed. They should be the first responders in times of emergency.”

The next round will be on Nov. 28 and 29.