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MANILA, Philippines – Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas has advised all local executives to avail of the latest breakthroughs in modern technology, particularly those involving weather information applications, in updating disaster risk reduction and management plans for their respective communities.
Roxas issued the call as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and other agencies of the government undertake a national information and education campaign aimed at enhancing the capacity of local governments to better prepare for and quickly respond to Yolanda-like phenomena.
The campaign dubbed “Iba Na Ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities,” which runs until the end of May, is an inter-agency government program aimed at providing science and technology-based disaster and weather information, tools, and technologies that will help local communities to prepare for natural calamities.
Other agencies involved in the campaign include the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) of the Department of National Defense (DND), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
In a directive to all provincial governors and city and municipal mayors, Roxas encouraged them and their disaster managers and officers to participate in the campaign being held in all regions of the country, and come up with their respective disaster risk reduction plans.
“Hinihikayat ko ang mga LGUs na lumahok sa proyektong ito at gamitin ang mga makabagong pamamaraan ng syensya at teknolohiya tulad ng mga hazard maps, websites at applications upang makagawa ng epektibong DRR (disaster risk reduction) plans,” Roxas said.
“Gawin natin ang lahat ng makakayang gawin para siguruhing ligtas sa kapahamakan ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Mahalaga ang bawat oras, mahalaga ang bawat buhay,” he added.
As part of the activity, the DOST and Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) were directed to share information, tools and technologies that are crucial in preparing DRR plans for communities.
NAMRIA, for its part, will share its maps. The OCD, on the other hand, will help local governments prepare their disaster plans using DOST’s tools and technologies.
Roxas said the Science for Safer Communities campaigns were already held each in Regions III (Central Luzon), IV-A (CALABARZON), IV-B (MIMAROPA), VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), X (Northern Mindanao), Caraga, and ARMM, which were attended by governors, city and municipal mayors including their respective DRR managers.
Meanwhile, the regional campaign for Regions I (Ilocos Region), II (Cagayan Valley), V (Bicol Region), VIII (Eastern Visayas), XI (Davao Region), XII (SOCCSKSARGEN), CAR, and NCR is set in the whole month of May.
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