The celebration of National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) in Iloilo City opened Thursday with the launch of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) alphabet and a resilience storybook.

The DRR Alphabet is a learning material that assigns a disaster risk reduction term or concept to each letter of the alphabet.

“It helps children, youth, and the community learn about disaster preparedness, safety, resilience, and climate and disaster risk awareness in a simple, fun, and engaging way. Through illustrations and DRR-related Hiligaynon and English words, it promotes a culture of preparedness and disaster awareness,” according to the project’s brief.

The Climate and Disaster Risk Activity Materials Advocacy Project highlights disaster prevention, mitigation, and preparedness by involving children and youth in developing educational materials.

The illustrations were created by children and enhanced by visual artist Mark Vincent Java.

The city also launched a resilience storybook, Donna and the Dust Mites, written by Public Information Office head Lucy Sinay. The book promotes cleanliness among children as part of building resilience.

Mayor Raisa Treñas read the story to children from city daycare centers during the launch.

“This is one way of showing that our preparation for disaster resilience considers all sectors and all ages. Everybody has to be aware and informed,” Treñas said.

The city will reproduce and distribute the DRR Alphabet and storybook to public schools and daycare centers. (PNA)