TV5 Davao is launching a special project that responds to the present time that calls for everyone to be environmentally-aware and disaster-ready.
Project Life Boat-e, aims to stir awareness on waste management through recycling of plastic bottles; disaster Risk Management through the barangay’s preparedness program; Barangay programs competitiveness.
It also is also seen as a potential livelihood avenue for communities in Davao villages which will be the Kapatid Network’s partner in the implementation of the project.
The target communities MatinaPangi, Talomo, MatinaAplaya, BagoAplaya, Matina Crossing, Los Amigos, Calinan, Lizada in Toril—the same villages that are frequently experiencing flood.
In June 30, the villages of MatinaPangi and Talomo were the hardest hit by the flood that killed more than 30, most of them children.
“The Project Life Boat-e is inspired by the prototype life raft being used by many flood victims themselves. TV5 believes that if all barangays in Davao will have the capability to rescue and protect the residents through the availability of improvised raft boats, like the Life Boat-e, more lives will be saved during water calamities,” said TaynaMiclat, station manager of TV5-Davao.
Project Life Boat-e hopes to help and support flood-prone communities build their own life rafts or boats that can be used during floods. Rafts can only carry about 6-8 people while makeshift rafts or boats can carry as much as 20 people.
Communities are then asked to collect empty plastic bottles which will be turned into life rafts.
“These barangays will also be encouraged to build plastic boats to sell to barangays in other cities or municipalities. Or those who have the knowhow on how to make the plastic boats will be asked to assist in training other barangays to multiply the number of participating barangays to the project,” the project paper said.
With this, Miclat said, the flood-prone villages will “standby life raft and/or boat made of plastic bottles to save lives and properties in case of floods.”
“This also calls for a collective effort from all the members of the community. The participation of everyone—from mothers, the youth, and everyone—is needed,” she said.
Along with the project, TV5 will also be conducting trainings on disaster and risk reduction to be spearheaded by PLDT and Coast Guard. Also supporting the project are SMART, Phoenix, Jaycees-Kadayawan and Kiwanis.
