Capitol to distribute emergency ‘go bags’

Local

CEBU’S disaster readiness is taking shape one "go bag" at a time.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has instructed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to inspect the items inside emergency "go bags" that will be distributed to the public.

"Some items I want to place inside the go bag are something innovative. Nag canvass pami and of course, we have to look for the most reasonable price kay we are spending public money baya," she told the media on Thursday, Oct. 16.

Each of the bags contains basic survival supplies good for 72 hours, such as food, water, toiletries, first aid kits, clothing, plastic envelopes for important documents, flashlights, matches, candles, and whistles.

It also includes a power bank and charger to help residents stay connected during emergencies.

The Capitol aims to distribute the Go Bags to every household as part of a provincewide preparedness initiative following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit northern Cebu on Sept. 30.

Baricuatro said she is coordinating with local government units to make the project feasible, given the large number of households across the province.

The provincial government is also preparing to purchase hard hats for students as an added layer of protection in schools.

Baricuatro said the initiative was inspired by the Go Bag program of Pasig City, where each kit costs around P990 after a competitive bidding process.

She tasked PDRRMO head Dennis Francis Pastor to review the proposal and ensure transparent procurement.

“The moment I saw it paghatag sa Pasig, I thought — this is something that we have to have,” she said.

Alongside disaster preparedness, the governor committed to help the Department of Education Central Visayas (DepEd 7) build Temporary Learning Shelters (TLS) for students in northern Cebu whose classrooms were destroyed by the earthquake.

During her meeting with Cebu Province Schools Division Supt. Senen Priscillo Paulin, she learned that at least 538 schools across the province sustained damage.

Baricuatro said the province will allocate a portion of the donations it received to fund the TLS construction and support recovery efforts in the education sector. DepEd 7 earlier estimated that the total cost of classroom and school facility damage in Cebu has reached nearly P4 billion.

TLS structures will serve as immediate learning spaces while permanent classrooms are being rebuilt.

DepEd and Phivolcs have also intensified collaboration to ensure that class suspensions and resumption decisions are guided by scientific data and local risk assessments.(MyTVCebu)