Iloilo City Community College (ICCC) administrator Ma. Mathilde Octavio recently revealed, she, along with representatives from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), various national government agencies, and academia, met to discuss possible curriculum for a disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) degree program.

“It is about time that we add a program where students can enroll and at the same time help our city,” she explained.

Octavio said final input on the program would be submitted by July 30, with a subsequent presentation for CHED planned before September 30.

“We are looking forward to this new program because we know that anything can happen anytime,” said Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III. “We could better prepare and mitigate the impact of disasters.”

Last week, the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council met with barangay officials from communities considered flood-prone.

“The public must be informed in advance so that they can take action immediately,” said CDRRMO head Donna Magno. “It’s our responsibility to identify flood prone areas and the nearest evacuation centers available.”/WDJ