In her five years leading the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Catarman, Northern Samar, 35-year-old Emerald Guevara is still beyond belief that she is part of and heads one of the crucial offices in their municipality.

As a nurse by profession, Guevara is no stranger to community service. She was a volunteer at the Philippine Red Cross and worked as a community nurse under the Department of Health (DOH) and as a school nurse in a private school in Northern Samar.

Despite her prior experiences in emergency response, she was hesitant to accept this position five years ago. However, her genuine concern for Catarmananons as well as other people’s doubts about her abilities fueled her motivation to accept the responsibility.

“When I entered this job in 2017, I had to start from scratch and learn the basics of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). I wanted to prove that I can lead this office and ensure that the trust they gave me for running this team will not be wasted,” Guevara said.

When she joined the team as its sole female member, it had only ten members. Now, Catarman MDRRMO has almost 50 personnel with three divisions led by women supervisors.

“My goal is to show the importance of our office by letting each of our teammates shine regardless of their gender and position. I want them to learn individually and use their voice to improve our team and better serve the people of Catarman,” she shared.

This Women’s Month, Catarman MDRRMO continues to empower communities, especially its women constituents, by preparing programs and activities that tackle DRR, and climate change adaptation, among others.

“Women make up a large part of our population in Catarman. By equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills, these women become force multipliers in their respective communities, leading in emergency response, first aid, and managing evacuation centers. There is so much a woman can do to contribute to disaster management. We are stronger when we come together,” Guevara said.

Recently, LGU Catarman received a Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence award for its remarkable disaster preparedness and mitigation. Smart Communications Inc.’s fast and reliable network has been boosting Catarman MDRRMO’s response to emergencies and disasters via its Smart hotline, allowing residents to quickly report emergencies to the MDRRMO.