The spirit of Republic Act 10121 otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 calls for Civic Society Organizations to engage and participate as private sector volunteers in the government’s risk reduction programs. Moreover, as an act strengthening the risk reduction management system framework it also mandates DepEd, CHED and TESDA to integrate disaster ri
sk and management education in the school curriculum. It even advises the OCD (Section 9) to establish Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Training institutes in such suitable locations deemed appropriate. Because of this mandate and call, the officers and men of United People Against Crime (UPAC) and the PGBI (Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Incorporated) Magdiwang Clan, who are all skilled and reservists of the AFP formed the Unified Search and Rescue (USAR) Academy of the Coastal and River Guards (CRG). The Citizens Rescue Operations on Sites and Shores (CROSS), formerly Unified Search and Rescue Academy - Coastal River Guards (USAR-CRG), is among the first Civic Society Organization (CSO) to respond to the mandate of Republic Act 10121. Republic Act No. 10121 is an act strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System, providing for the national disaster risk reduction and management framework and institutionalizing the national disaster risk reduction and management plan. The CROSS as CSO is non-state actor whose aim is neither to generate profit nor to seek power. As a CSO it unites people to advance the shared goal and interest of preparing for any calamity or disaster in order to reduce risk especially for marginalized communities. The CROSS Academy specializes in community-based disaster risk reduction management especially in communities it consider at risk. CROSS teaches members of the community to be resilient by teaching contingency planning, disaster mitigation and preparation and disaster response. CROSS advocates the teaching of risk reduction to all those in civil services, young people especially students and even out of school youths as mandated by section 14 of the aforementioned law. The CROSS was established by reservists of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from its different branches of service unifying their skills in risk reduction to serve the country hence the name, Unified Search and Rescue. CROSS was organized by Guardians who would like to take care of the country’s environment specifically its waterways. Its definition of rescue entails the saving of our ecological patrimony and even our national heritage as a people. The CROSS welcomes all patriots who would like to serve the country by way of reducing risks in the environment and especially in marginalized communities.
