07 November 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Mexico organized a seminar on disaster awareness and civil protection for Embassy personnel and their dependents on October 29.

The seminar was conducted by officials from the Directorate General of Training and Professionalization of the Federal Police of Mexico, namely, Director Jorge Jaramillo; Inspector Alejandro Leal, Inspector; and Deputy Official Guadalupe Alcantara.

In his opening remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem Jr., thanked the Federal Police and emphasized the main objective of the course which was for the Embassy to enhance its own awareness guidelines in case of disasters in Mexico and to ensure that the Embassy personnel and their families are well-prepared in emergency situations.

The seminar’s topics included an overview of common natural disasters and similar hazards in Mexico, which include hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Inspector Leal discussed the effects of these disasters on pre-Hispanic cultures up to the present day, as well as Mexico’s efforts to deal with these events.

Deputy Official Alcantara then detailed the government structure and institutions handling civil protection, and outlined the legal framework, citing domestic and international laws and regulations governing proper workplace safety, road safety, and disaster preparedness. The participants were also shown a documentary on the devastating 1985 earthquake in Mexico City, its aftermath, and how this contributed to Mexico’s current preemptive measures against similar calamities.

Lastly, the Embassy personnel and their dependents simulated fire and earthquake emergency evacuation scenarios, and were informed of the various ways to minimize accidents and injuries during disasters.  END