Roxas to LGUs: Use apps

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II urged local executives to avail themselves of the latest applications in modern technology in updating disaster risk reduction and management plans for their respective communities.

Roxas said modern technology is available, particularly for weather information and education, which would enhance the capacity of local governments to better prepare for and quickly respond to Yolanda-like phenomena.

“We are encouraging our local government officials 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,” he said.

Roxas issued the call as the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other agencies undertake a national campaign dubbed “Iba na ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities,” which runs until this month.

The inter-agency government program is aimed at providing science- and technology-based disaster and weather information, tools and technologies that will help local communities to prepare for natural calamities.