The Department of Health (DOH) recently held an online forum highlighting the need to further develop programs on disaster preparedness.
The forum is part of the DOH’s celebration of “National Disaster Resilience Month.”
In the said forum, Maria Belinda Evangelista, a nurse from the DOH Health Emergency Management Bureau discussed the adverse effects of calamities on Filipinos’ resilience
“The primary thing to remember is not to panic. Make sure that there is access to communication devices. Once you feel that the area you are currently in is no longer secure, you must evacuate to a safer place,” Evangelista said in her presentation.
Her presentation covered natural disasters including volcanic eruptions, tropical cyclones, and earthquakes.
Eighteen tropical cyclones entered the Philippine area of responsibility in the previous year, and five made landfall, according to a report by the DOH. Tropical storm Agaton, which caused a landslide in Leyte in 2022 was the most notable.
Evangelista’s report also acknowledged a report by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) that recorded more than 14,300 earthquake events within the country last year. An estimate of 96 percent of these seismic events were below magnitude four, while around 517 were recorded between magnitude 4 to 5.
With the arrival of the rainy season, Evangelista also noted that preparation is necessary in order to survive the coming storms.
She emphasized that an emergency go-bag containing a first-aid kit, food, water, flashlights, spare batteries, medication (especially for those with comorbidities) is a must in order to meet the minimum requirement of three days of survival before being rescued.
She also noted for people with household pets to prepare all of the animals’ essentials like food and water should disaster hit them.
In Visayas, the Philippine RTed Cross (PRC) donated P1 billion worth of humanitiarian assistance in Cebu. This included the construction and repair of houses, livelihood assistance, and the distribution of food items.
“Our priorities in the recovery phase must be redirected towards making communities resilient and adaptable to hazards, especially as we observe the Disaster Resilience Month this July,” PRC Chairperson and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon told the Philippine Information Agency in an interview.
He further assured that the organization will continue to aid and support those in the region in terms of rehabilitation, response, resilience, and rehabilitation.
Executive Order No. 29, as signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, mandates the observance of National Disaster Consciousness Month (NDCM) to increase the awareness of the public on the importance of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).
Local Government Units (LGUs) are expected to comply by implementing their disaster awareness campaigns with longer focus and on a comprehensive basis. Gabriellea B. Pariño