To strengthen institutional disaster awareness and emergency preparedness, Davao de Oro State College, through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Section, conducted an Earthquake and Fire Prevention and Awareness Symposium on March 26, 2026, at the DdOSC Activity Center.

In particular, the activity covered key topics, including fire safety measures, prevention strategies, proper handling of firefighting equipment, earthquake preparedness, and emergency response protocols.

Facilitated by experts from the Compostela Emergency Response Team (CoERT) and the Compostela Municipal Fire Station, the symposium gathered members of the DdOSC Disaster Action and Response Team (DART) as well as student volunteers.

The one-day event featured two sessions: in the morning, Marchel Joy C. Divinagracia, RN, of CoERT led the discussion on earthquake preparedness.

Meanwhile, in the afternoon, Fire Officer 2 Reymond E. Flores, Fire Officer 1 Ariston James P. Abarca, and Fire Officer 1 Rhea Mie P. Mack conducted the session on fire prevention and response, which included a hands-on demonstration on proper fire suppression techniques.

In her message, Engr. Maria Teresa M. Dublas, DRRM Focal Person and DART Action Officer, emphasized that this undertaking would enhance participants’ knowledge, skills, and readiness in responding effectively to fire and earthquake emergencies.

The symposium aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting health and safety (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being), enhancing practical learning (SDG 4: Quality Education), and fostering disaster-resilient communities (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities), while also supporting climate preparedness (SDG 13: Climate Action).

Furthermore, it also highlights the value of multi-sector collaboration (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals), bringing together DdOSC, CoERT, and the Municipal Fire Station to build a more prepared and responsive academic community.