Bulihan National High School’s Batang Empowered and Resilient Team (BERT) once again proudly showcased their knowledge regarding DRRM, this was after the school was invited to the recently concluded NCYC on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). It was held from the 16th to the 18th of July, 2024 at Dusit Thani Manila in the city of Makati.

   Four BERT officers were chosen to facilitate the said event. These are Qwncy and Prince, both chosen to facilitate the age group of 15-17 years old, then Candice and Justin, both chosen to facilitate the age group of 10-14 years old. Five others were chosen to be participants; Ronalyn, Tracy (15-17), Vernalyn, James, and Fhrenan (10-14).

   The National Children and Youth Consultation on Disaster Risk Reduction aims to see the perspectives and hear the opinions of children from different provinces in the Philippines about Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, which can surely help in making decisions and actions that can address the circumstances that we are currently dealing with. With the help of non-governmental organizations, volunteers, and the Local Government Unit of Makati City, the event was made to happen.

   On the second and last day of NCYC on DRR, a stakeholder from World Vision discussed and explained thoroughly the  meaning of SFDRR or the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction before proceeding with the fourth and last session. After the fourth session, a plenary was held again whereby different stakeholders from non-governmental organizations, government institutions, and Makati City LGU, came. They gave their reactions and messages, especially for the youth and children that were there. Afterward, Candice Danelle, BERT officer, presented the suggestions and actions generated from the two days of NCYC on Disaster Risk Reduction, along with other two facilitators from the age group 15-17 years old and young adults.

   The program ended with the making of a time capsule that will be opened in the year 2030, facilitators and participants were instructed to make suggestions, messages, posters, or anything related to their experiences in the NCYC on DRR 2024.

   Finally, after the program was finished, an election of the representatives for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2024 was conducted; whereas Ronalyn, 16, and Candice, 14, both from Bulihan NHS BERT, were chosen to be representatives in the said event. The two of them will continue to train hard because there are only less than three months allotted for their training, and most especially they will play a significant role in the success of the event.