Red Cross, DepEd tie up for emergency readiness

THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Department of Education (DepEd) announced Friday their partnership for school emergency readiness. The emergency preparedness plan includes promoting mental health awareness, as well as peer support and humanitarian values among students, amid concerns over a worsening El Niño and increasingly severe disasters. The Red Cross Youth will train students in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and disaster risk reduction and management. “By strengthening our partnership with DepEd, we can make schools safer and ensure that teachers and students are better prepared for emergencies and disasters,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said. Education Secretary Sonny Angara said schools should develop students beyond academic achievement, and foster responsibility and a willingness to serve others among them. “We need to have well-rounded students. The culture of preparedness, volunteerism and humanitarianism is something the world needs now,” Angara said.