CitySavings partners with WeatherPhilippines for Weather and Tropical Cyclone 101 in NCR

CitySavings partners with WeatherPhilippines for Weather and Tropical Cyclone 101 in NCR


Thumbs up from the Weather 101 and Tropical Cyclone 101 participants of DepEd NCR, with them are Weather Philippines Foundation Vice President and General Manager, Celso Cabellero III (center, seated in white) and representatives from City Savings Bank.

Each year, communities in our country are devastated and seriously affected by all types of weather conditions despite advance warning from our local government. Last August 20 at the Department of Education's (DepEd) NCR Regional Office, Weather Philippines Foundation (WPF) in partnership with City Savings Bank gave a pilot run for basic understanding of the weather. This is in line with the Bank's commitment to promote better education. The training aims to improve nationwide disaster preparedness and timely response to variable weather conditions in the public school sector thru DepEd's Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM).

The forum was graced by Dr. Ponciano A. Menguito, DepEd NCR Assistant Regional Director, organized by Div. Chief for Curriculum and Learning Management, Dr. Gina Santos and attended by 60 DRRM focal persons representing the different school divisions of NCR. WPF was headed by Celso C. Caballero III, Vice President and General Manager, and his WPF team. CitySavings on the other hand were represented by Richard Bernadez, Regional Business Head for NCR, Fatima Mateo, Branch Business Head (BBH) for Robinsons Galleria, Rechie Lastimoso, former BBH for Anonas, QC and Oliver Mercado, BBH for EspaƱa, Manila. Due to the forum's very relevant topic, the partnership was a definite success, participants were very engaged as evidenced during the exercises conducted by the speakers.

The training was conducted by one of WeatherPhilippines' seasoned meteorologist, Leonilo Millanes. The weather course covered basic concepts, process and effects of different weather disturbances and rain producing weather systems in the country. Participants also learned the necessary knowledge to formulate contingency plans and to come up with appropriate decisions to mitigate the adverse effects of weather-related disasters.

Aida P. Manrique, DRRM Coordinator for Manila and DRRM Master Trainor for NCR, in her message said, "The learnings we got here are far different from what we learn and hear from TV broadcasters and PAGASA weather forecasters. Today, we were able to understand what we need to know about cyclone and how typhoons/storms are formed. This is an eye-opener for all of us. Our disaster chain focuses more on earthquakes, this is the first time that we have a training about weather (condition). It is high time for us to understand what these things are. So, may I just thank our guests (Weather Philippines Foundation) and our sponsor (City Savings Bank) for giving us the opportunity to learn something important."