The Persons with Disability Affairs Division of the Governor’s Office and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office conducted the Disability Inclusive Disaster Resilience Training, an inclusive collaboration celebrating both National Disaster Resilience Month and Disability Awareness Week. The training was held on July 22, 2026, in the Ammungan Hall of the Capitol Compound, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

Provincial Disability Affairs Officer Venus Cadabona reiterated the importance of inclusivity and strengthened partnerships among municipal officers and the provincial government. The impetus behind the event, according to Cadabona, is to reinforce inclusive disaster preparedness and upholding the rights and dignity of the PWD sector.

The activity saw the participation of representatives from ten municipal disability affairs offices, as well as officers from the PDRRMO. Local DRRM Officer Gerry Daran from Dupax del Sur served as resource speaker on matters of inclusivity in disaster resilience.

Such topics as pre-disaster preparedness, disability-inclusive evacuation planning, emergency response coordination, etc., were discussed in the training, with Mr. Daran advising the attendees to ‘bridge gap’ between households and local government units, as well as sharing experiences of previous disasters and assessments on inspected infrastructure in the province.

An open forum was also conducted, during which the officers presented questions and concerns as far as coordination and funding for PWD- and disaster-related issues. The training was capped off with a practical evacuation simulation.

As PWDs are one of the most vulnerable sectors especially in times of disaster, the partnership between GO-PDAD and PDRRMO is essential in empowering PWDs with inclusivity and responsibility. /igmb

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