Northwestern University through its Community Extension Center took part in the October 2011 National Statistics Month (NSM) Celebration with the theme, “Quality Social Protection Statistics for Focused Targeting: Improving Outcomes, Changing Lives.”
Two Extension Programs were implemented during the month, Disaster Preparedness Seminar and Launching Program of Waste Management for a Cause with the theme “SA BA- SURA MO NAKASALALAY ANG KINABUKASAN KO.”
Disaster preparedness seminar was conducted in Brgy. 42 Apaya, Laoag City last October 16, 2011 facilitated by NWUCEC , COME, Phil. Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration- Department of Science and Technology (PAGASA-DOST) and the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Province of Ilocos Norte.
Barangay Apaya is a flood-prone area and flood water reaches as high as 14 feet in Sitio Surgui with the Brgy. Hall serving as an evacuation area.
Engr. Randy Tolentino, a representative from the Provincial Capitol, discussed the importance of conducting the seminar on disaster preparedness. Meanwhile, Engr. Cynthia Iglesias, PAG-ASA DOST, showed some pictures of the different types of disasters. She explained the different warning, signals and weather forecast releases/aired by their office in which the residents should be prepared. Iglesias also cited some items, material, supplies that should be prepared during such calamities.
Workshop was conducted after the lecture and the barangay officials were given exercise on how to plot the coordinates to determine the actual location of the typhoon. They were also required to determine the number of families and a color coding (based on the average height of flood-water on the sitios) was assigned in the Barangay Map prepared by a student of the College of Maritime Education. Inventory of available facilities (i.e communication, vehicle) that could be used during disaster was encouraged.
After the workshop, the group conducted an ocular inspection on the possible cause of flooding in the area. The residents claimed that the box culverts constructed along the Airport runway were not able to serve its purpose,-to be the outlet of excess water.
The second activity which was the launching Program for the Waste Management for a Cause with the theme: “Sa Basura mo Nakasalalay ang Kinabukasan Ko” was conducted last October 27, 201. Attended by 210 students, faculty and staff this was conducted as a follow-up on the waste management seminar with the theme “Turn Waste to resources” that was conducted by the CEC last August 31, 2010. This activity was facilitated by the Non-Academic Units (IPODD,PPDO,RCEIAD,OP) in cooperation with the Academe (DSA and NSTP) in cooperation with PENRO and CSWDO. This was conceptualized to put into action the concepts learned during the previous seminar “everything must go somewhere,” that waste is a resource when placed in the right place. Wastes are thrown anywhere because people consider them as items with no value; if it has a value then it will not be thrown anywhere.
Its objectives were to lead NWU community to a greater awareness on the importance of Solid Waste Management, students to put into practice what is learned in the four corners of the room and to develop self-discipline, make money from plastic waste, and to have a clean and healthy surroundings.
The solidarity message was delivered by forester Juan P. Delos Reyes Jr., PENR Officer of DENR.
“Income derived from scrap and waste segregation had helped a lot in sending my children to a good school” Delos Reyes Jr. stressed.
Mr. Kristoffer Medina of STAC-19 CSWDO of Laoag City congratulated the NWU community for such an activity while the University president, Ma. Liza Niicolas, encouraged everyone to be more responsible in managing waste.
Prof. Rodolfo Pingao, NSTP coordinator delivered his words of commitment. “It will be the responsibility of the faculty to inculcate in the minds of their students the importance of well-managed wastes,” he said.
