Bicol U to Help Build Resilient Communities

Legazpi City (3 August) -- The Bicol University through its Extension Service Center launched last July 30, 2010 its program to help the Bicol communities to be resilient. Participated in by more than seventy five representatives coming from heads of Higher Eduaction Institutions, LGU's, the Armed Forces, rescue volunteers and extension workers around Albay province, the launching which was held at the BU College of Nursing Amphitheater, Legazpi City is part of the university's extension mandate of bringing the university closer to the people.

BU Extension Service Center Director Leilani D. Pavilando, stressed in her talk that "with the use of knowledge, innovation and education, we can build a culture of safety and resiliency at all levels in our communities." Resiliency, according to Pavilando, is the capacity of the community to bounce back after a certain disaster. In order to have this, community members must put into practice early and effective action so that they can respond to adversity in a healthy manner.

Meanwhile, BU President Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya, announced that the university is planning to offer a course on meteorology in the future. This will be a bachelors degree program which has never been offered in any university in the country. "It is high time that we take this initiative of offering this course, especially at this time that we would like to help our people in terms of proper weather forecasting." Lauraya pointed out in her message.

Project Bicol EDEN (Extension Disaster Education Network) will be a kind of avenue to help further build resilient communities. Bicol EDEN is patterned from the US EDEN concept which was introduced by Dr. Carolyn Crocoll last April this year when she had a series of talks at Bicol University, Legazpi City. Project Bicol EDEN is a collaborative, multi-stakeholder effort by different member institutions across the Region to share education resources to reduce the impact of natural and man-made disasters. (PING B. PERALTA/BU Extension News)