The main content of the introductory training-workshop were the nine (9) learning modules on post-disaster psychosocial support carried out through presentations, small group discussions, simulations and other highly interactive strategies by seven (7) facilitators from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas. It also featured relevant sessions such as Issues, Concerns and Problems in Implementing Psychological First Aid, Prospects for School-based Inservice Teachers Training, Facilitation Skills, Disasters and Mental Health, Psychological First Aid and Disaster Risk Reduction in Basic Education Framework by Department of Education, Philippines.

There were fifty seven (57) secondary school teacher participants from typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) most affected areas in Region VI (Western Visayas) and six (6) key officials from DepED Regional Office VI (Western Visayas), who actively participated in the training-workshop.

Dr. Mee Young Choi, Head of Education Unit, UNESCO Office Jakarta welcomed the participants and expressed her appreciation to Philippines’ Department of Education for its continued support. She also expressed appreciation to the participants for their efforts and enthusiasm towards the training-workshop. UNESCO as United Nations knowledge agency contributes in building back better after a natural disaster through this capacity building initiative using the Teachers’ Manual on Psychosocial Interventions, she added.  

On behalf of the Philippines’ Department of Education Regional Office VI (Western Visayas), Mrs. Miriam Lima, Regional Education Program Supervisor (Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao), welcomed the guests and participants. She conveyed the appreciation of Dr. Ma. Gemma Ledesma, Regional Director, Department of Education Regional Office VI-Western Visayas to UNESCO and the Government of Japan through its Official Development Assistance for the implementation of the project in typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) most affected areas in Region VI (Western Visayas). She highlighted that teacher participants should endeavour to maximize this rare learning opportunity not only for professional growth but ultimately for their students well-being.    

Dr. Hilda Montaño, Dean, College of Education, West Visayas State University, delivered the key speech. She said that the pain brought by the disaster can be particularly deep when social support is inadequate or worse unavailable. Also, she said that, let us bear in mind that what you will learn in this training-workshop in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes will have a long-term impact to have a life after the disaster and be able to move on. As teacher participants with willingness to be part of this undertaking, you can make a difference, she added.  

On the other hand, Ms. Daisy Espulgar, Mathematics Secondary School Teacher, Dueñas General Comprehensive High School (Dueñas, Iloilo, Philippines) said that they, the teacher participants, no matter what gender and subjects are taught, still can make a difference in the lives of students most especially in times of disasters and calamities. We have learned how to prepare our hearts, our bodies and our minds in times of disasters and calamities, she added.  

The introductory training-workshop concluded with the commitment from participants to implement the learning modules to their respective classes and share the same to their fellow teachers through the school based inservice teachers training.