PHL Consulate General in Chicago Celebrates National Women’s Month with the Chicago Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Director Rich Frizelis, Deputy Director Molly Murray, Deputy Director Josephine Mascarenas-Diaz, and Deputy Director Maria Vergara call on Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin (center) before the start of the Talakayan on disaster preparedness. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Arnel Santiago)

03 April 2018 CHICAGO – The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago celebrated the National Women’s Month by organizing for the members of the Filipino community in Chicago an introduction to disaster preparedness conducted by officers and members of Chicago’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) led by Director Richard Frizelis. The event with the title “Gear Up. Get Ready!,” was held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Consulate on March 27 and served as the Consulate’s "Ika-4 na Talakayan sa Konsulado”. Given women’s high vulnerability to risks during disasters, the Talakayan aimed to empower Filipino women in Chicago by providing the attendees of the event information and skills on how to prepare for emergency situations brought about by disasters.

Philippine Consul General to Chicago Gina A. Jamoralin, in her welcome remarks, thanked CERT for sharing their knowledge and skills that will help raise the Filipino community’s appreciation of the importance of disaster preparedness. The presentations included the preparation of an emergency kit, preparation of a family emergency plan and schedule of the next CERT trainings offered by the city of Chicago for free for its residents. A short video on the importance of having women as stakeholders in disaster management was shown prior to the presentations by Chicago CERT.

Managed by the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), CERT was developed to augment local response capabilities and recovery efforts throughout the city by training volunteers to be prepared for home emergencies and to respond to a crisis or disaster. END

Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin delivers her welcome remarks during the Ika-4 na Talakayan sa Konsulado  which featured presentations by Chicago Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) on disaster preparedness.(Photo courtesy of Mr. Arnel Santiago)

Consul General Jamoralin (middle), CERT guest speakers Rich Frizelis, Josephine Mascarenas-Diaz, Maria Vergara, and members of the Consulate General and of the Filipino-American community posing for a souvenir photo after the event. (Photo Courtesy of Mr. Arnel Santiago)

For more information, visit www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph; www.chicagopcg.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChicago.