Robin Reiterates Need for Civilian Preparedness for Quakes, Calamities through Military Training

After the Philippines was included among areas that could feel the effects of a powerful quake in Taiwan, Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla reiterated Wednesday the need to prepare citizens to respond to calamities by undergoing military training.

Speaking at the start of the Basic Citizen Military Course at the Senate, Padilla stressed that basic military training for citizens will prepare them not only for war, but for disaster response.

"Iba pa rin kung tayo mismo, trained, alam natin kung anong gagawin natin pag may emergency. Hindi lang ito usapin ng giyera... Itong ginagawa nating ito para sa kapayapaan at kaligtasan ng kapwa natin (It would be good if we were trained and knew what to do in an emergency. This is for the peace and safety of our fellow Filipinos)," he said.

On Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued a tsunami warning for four areas in northern Luzon after Taiwan was hit by a powerful quake.

Also, Padilla pointed out to the Senate employees who took part in the training that the government's services cannot be disrupted by a calamity or emergency.

He thanked the Philippine Navy Naval Reserve Command under Maj. Gen. Joseph Ferrous Soriano Cuison for conducting the training.

"Ang kailangan natin matutunan ang ituturo sa atin paano ang may leader (at) may follower. Dito sa Pilipinas... kaunti ang follower, gusto lahat leader. Dito sa training natin malalaman natin sino ang leader natin, sino ang susundin natin, ano ang protocol natin para sa pagdating ng emergency. Alam natin ang chain of command. Hindi tayo nalilito, hindi tayo natataranta. Lahat tayo may say, lahat may papel, lahat kumikilos (We need to know the roles of leaders and followers. In the Philippines, there are too many people who want to be leaders. We should know who will lead, what the protocols are in an emergency. We must not be confused; instead, we all have roles to play in responding to a calamity)," he said.

Robin, Muling Iginiit ang Kahandaan sa Sakuna sa Pamamagitan ng Military Training

Matapos makasama ang Pilipinas sa lugar na posibleng maapektuhan ng tsunami dahil sa lindol sa Taiwan, muling iginiit ni Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla ngayong Miyerkules ang kahandaan ng mamamayang Pilipino sa oras sa sakuna, sa pamamagitan ng military training.

Sa pagsimula ng Basic Citizen Military Course sa Senado, idiniin ni Padilla na ang basic military training para sa mamamayan ay paghahanda hindi lamang sa oras ng digmaan kundi pati sa oras ng kalamidad.

"Iba pa rin kung tayo mismo, trained, alam natin kung anong gagawin natin pag may emergency. Hindi lang ito usapin ng giyera... Itong ginagawa nating ito para sa kapayapaan at kaligtasan ng kapwa natin," ani Padilla.

Nitong Miyerkules ng umaga, nag-issue ng tsunami warning ang Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) sa apat na lugar sa hilagang Luzon matapos tamaan ng malakas na lindol ang Taiwan.

Ani Padilla sa mga taga-Senado na lumahok sa training, hindi pupwede na sa oras na may delubyo o anumang emergency, maputol ang serbisyo ng pamahalaan.

Nagpasalamat si Padilla sa Philippine Navy Naval Reserve Command sa pamumuno ni Maj. Gen. Joseph Ferrous Soriano Cuison para sa training.

"Ang kailangan natin matutunan ang ituturo sa atin paano ang may leader (at) may follower. Dito sa Pilipinas... kaunti ang follower, gusto lahat leader. Dito sa training natin malalaman natin sino ang leader natin, sino ang susundin natin, ano ang protocol natin para sa pagdating ng emergency. Alam natin ang chain of command. Hindi tayo nalilito, hindi tayo natataranta. Lahat tayo may say, lahat may papel, lahat kumikilos," aniya.