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Improving Disaster Preparedness A Journey Towards Resilience in the Philippines

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has made significant strides in improving disaster preparedness among Filipinos, but OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno emphasizes that there is still much work to be done to build a resilient nation.

A Growing Understanding of Hazards

According to Nepomuceno, while Filipinos have become more knowledgeable about dealing with calamities, the intensity and frequency of these events have increased. We've seen improvements in the use of scientific data, particularly with Hazard Hunter or Geohazard maps, he notes. These tools are essential for enabling people to make informed decisions when preparing for or mitigating disasters.

Tools for Timely Warnings

With approximately 20 typhoons visiting the country annually, alongside the risk of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, it is crucial that Filipinos have access to accurate and timely warnings. Nepomuceno explains that the OCD's platforms provide people with information on the hazards they face in their specific locations. We are equipping them with knowledge about the dangers they are facing – whether these are flood-prone, landslide-prone, and so forth.

Addressing Complacency

Despite multiple warnings, some residents still fail to evacuate during disasters. Nepomuceno attributes this to a complacent mindset among some Filipinos. The government is relentless in issuing warnings for disasters, but some individuals have the tendency to ignore these alerts. That's why we are continuously finding ways to make our warnings more understandable, creative, and relevant to the people, he says.

Investing in the Youth

Nepomuceno emphasizes the importance of investing in the youth, whose mindsets are easier to mold. In fact, for typhoons, we give warnings as early as three days before the onset of the cyclone. He also vows to continue collaborating with the media to provide timely and adequate warnings for disasters.

Lessons from Japan

Nepomuceno notes that despite being located on the Pacific Ring of Fire like the Philippines, Japan is not listed on the World Risk Index. The Philippines tops this list. This only means that we still need a lot of interventions, and we have to work on our culture. While Japan has a lot of infrastructure projects, individually you also don't see them throwing away trash on the streets, he says.

Prioritizing Disaster Preparedness

Nepomuceno emphasizes that disaster preparedness and climate change remain low on Filipinos' list of priorities. He stresses that it is essential to prioritize these issues in order to build a resilient nation.

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