(Mayor Edwin Santiago and Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin join school heads as they display copies of the big book during its launching at the Vista Mall on Wednesday. Photo by Ashely Manabat)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — A book which aims to increase disaster awareness among children was launched at the Vista Mall here on Wednesday in celebration of this year’s National Disaster Resilience Month.
The big book, written in the spoken dialect of the children with an English translation, is entitled: “Limang Kuentu Bang Maging Alertu.”
It features five stories that convey safety and disaster preparedness tips which are easily understood through colorful illustrations.
The book was authored by Jeff erson David, illustrated by Cristian Mercado, translated by Dr. Fernandina Otchengco and edited by Ching Pangilinan and Michael Pangilinan.
It was organized by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC)-Information Management Committee (IMC).
During the launching, David led a storytelling activity with elementary students from public and private schools in the city.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Jimmy T. Lazatin wants to institutionalize disaster preparedness in schools by coming up with the relevant ordinance for the initiative as he talked on the relevance of the activity.
For his part, Mayor Edwin “Edsa” D. Santiago underscored the need to instill proper values in children as well as enhanced disaster preparedness because they are the most vulnerable sector in society.
Santiago said the simple book will be a legacy to future generations.
“The simple book will be a gift to the children so that they will gain knowledge and know how to prepare themselves in times of disasters,” he said.
“The government is here just to facilitate the importance of disaster preparedness,” he added.
Later, copies of the book were turned-over to the Department of Education represented by officer-in-charge, assistant schools division superintendent Dr. Shirley Zipagan.
