The Philippine Association of NSTP Implementers and Disaster Risk Managers, Inc. (PANIDRM), in partnership with Tarlac State University, organized the 1st International Conference on NSTP (National Service Training Program) and Risk Managers 2022 with a kick-off program held earlier today (September 21, 2022), at the Kaisa Convention Hall in Tarlac City.
This event serves as a venue for an open exchange of ideas and resources among plenary speakers and participants, leading to concrete plans and actions to prevent and mitigate disasters and calamities.
The three-day activity bears the theme "Empowered, Dedicated NSTP Implementers and Disaster Risk Managers: A Key Milestone Towards UN SDG and Ambisyon 2040's Realization," in connection with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Philippines' development goals.
Dr. Susana L. Fernandez, GSC PA (Res), PANIDRM president and NSTP/DRRM coordinator of Pangasinan State University, welcomed over 500 participants from state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local government units across the country.
In her message, she said that this event is an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and experience on how Filipinos can respond and cope with the grittiest challenges in human existence – environment-related disasters, technology risks, safety, and security concerns.
"It is a great honor and privilege for spearheading the conduct of this said activity that seeks to remind everyone of the important task to delve the resilience of the Philippine society and protect the country and its people from future disasters. Let us continue being one with the government in working in a proactive and responsive manner to achieve its vision," she said.
Meanwhile, on behalf of TSU President Dr. Anorld E. Velasco, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Agnes M. Macaraeg congratulated the organization for their successful event. She also delivered the president's message.
"As leaders and educators, we have an immense responsibility to persuade the next generation to promote and practice civic consciousness and defense preparedness by developing their sense of patriotism. As the consultant and legal adviser of this organization, I am proud that all the hardworking individuals behind this successful event exerted their effort to come up with this useful conference. This can be reechoed to our colleagues later on for knowledge transfer," she read.
The event's guest of honor and speaker was Tarlac Province governor Hon. Susan A. Yap. In her stead, 2nd District Board Member Hon. Christopher C. Delos Reyes read her message.
"We are not just here to talk and forget as soon as we leave this hall. More than that, this event exists because it calls us to orient ourselves and recalibrate our ways of thinking to address pertinent issues such as climate change and disaster risk management. It is a milestone indeed that we are all gathered here to sort out the future of our communities against climate change and its repercussions," her message said.
"I am with you as we celebrate this milestone. Communities are the most essential unit of the state. It is not a competition to show who does the job better. As an alternate perspective, I would like to think of it as an emulation of what works best rather than just a cheap, insignificant competition among ourselves. I can't stress this enough: our efforts are futile without our collective synergy--the same cogs that run this engine in serving for the greater good," Hon. Delos Reyes finished.
The conference, which will run from September 21-23, will focus on the following topics: 1) Key revisions of the NSTP Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR); 2) Global Approaches of United Nations in Strategizing Disaster Risk Reduction Management; 3) Multi-dimensional Domains of Disaster Risk Managers: Towards Community Involvement and Resilience; 4) Effective Curriculum Planning and Sound Disaster Risk Management Manual of Operations: A Perspective of SUC and LGU Partnerships; Responding to Mental Health Issues during Catastrophe: A Global Outlook; 5) Challenges of NSTP Implementers and Disaster Risk Managers in the Philippines: Towards Readiness to Turbulence; and 6) Luzon Islands: An Archipelagic Voyage to a Disaster Resilient Communities.
Among the international guests invited were Mr. Matthew Moore from Australia, Mr. Steven T. Plant Jr. from the United States of America, and Mr. Wayne A. Bacon from New Zealand.
