Media Release
September 29, 2022
First Gen-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the country’s leading renewable energy producer, partnered with the City Government of Sorsogon to enhance the community’s emergency preparedness and disaster response.
EDC conducted a 3-day training exercise about the All Hazard Community Emergency Response & Austere Environment Rescue. Members of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team from each of the host barangays, representatives from Sorsogon City and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Bureau of Fire Protection attended the training.
EDC’s Safety and Emergency Management Department, led by Doc Ted Esguerra, Simforiano Rivera, and Gerard Natividad, conducted the training on providing community-based emergency preparedness and humanitarian action services.
The safety department familiarized trainees with the components of the emergency medical services system, how to perform primary and secondary assessments, basic trauma life support, and how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with an Automated External Defibrillation (AED) device.
Trainees were also provided knowledge of austere medical practices for trauma emergencies and surface water rescue techniques.
To further strengthen EDC’s support, the renewable energy leader also signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Sorsogon City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) for the installation of the latter’s very high-frequency repeater system at the EDC radio tower facility. This is a key tool for communication and coordination during natural calamities.
Gina Pascual, EDC’s Vice President and Head of Corporate Support Functions, expressed the importance of disaster preparedness and emergency response efforts. She explained how it plays an important role in raising public awareness regarding calamities, including basic knowledge, types of disasters, disaster-prone locations, disaster preparedness and mitigation, and emergency response period.
“EDC always desires to help and extend support to LGU, to the CDRRMO, and other stakeholders through our corporate social responsibility programs and initiatives as part of our mission of forging collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future,” Pascual said.
With this collaboration, the local government will be able to strengthen and improve the radio communications within the sixty-four (64) Barangays of Sorsogon City as part of CDRRMO’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan during calamities and emergency responses. This project will also provide immediate localized weather forecast alerts based on the standard PAGASA warnings and other related information through SMS to the designated personnel of CDRRMO. This information will afford sound and timely decisions for the LGU and its constituents in addressing typhoons and similar events.
Meanwhile, Hon. Ester E. Hamor, Mayor of Sorsogon City, thanked EDC for this partnership that ensures the safety of its constituents.
Recent typhoons in the Philippines that occurred in the past two years have not only taken over 700 Filipino lives, based on reports but also caused nearly Php 100 billion worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
There’s no question that we’re seeing an increase in severity and frequency of extreme weather events such as typhoons, heavy downpours that cause floods and landslides, hottest temperature rise, and other natural disasters. Nearly every Filipino today has witnessed firsthand the destruction these extreme weather events bring.
While we take climate action in efforts to cool our warming planet, our kababayans continue to rebuild and improve our nation’s climate resilience. Both Filipino companies and local governments recognize the challenges brought about by climate change and work together to meet them.
The Philippines is one of the countries most susceptible to the effects of climate change, and partnerships like this are essential in accelerating the development of our nation’s ability to react and respond during emergencies, building our climate resilience, and saving Filipino lives.
The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is the leading 100% clean, renewable energy company in the Philippines, with over 40 years of experience in geothermal technology. With power plants situated across the country, EDC is the world’s largest vertically integrated geothermal company. The company also strives to provide the best customer and value-adding services to all its customers. To learn more about lowering your business’ carbon footprint by shifting to renewable energy, visit Energy Development Corporation’s official website or email [email protected]
