Mar to LGUs : Use technology for disaster preparedness plan

MANILA, Philippines - Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has advised all local executives to use 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, the Department of Science and Technolog, 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 disasters.

The campaign, dubbed as  "Iba na ang panahon: Science for Safer Communities,” which runs until the end of May this year, 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 of the Department of National Defense, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).

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 (DRR) 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 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.

The DENR-NAMRIA, for its part, will share its maps while the DND-OCD 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, IV-A, IV-B, VI, VII, IX, X, XIII and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, attended by governors, city and municipal mayors, and their r respective DRR managers.,

The regional campaign for Regions I, II, Cordillera Autonomous Region, V, VIII, XI, XII and National Capital Region, on the other hand, are set in the whole month of May.