Philippines: 'Use science-based disaster tools'

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has urged Local Government Units (LGUs) to adopt science-based tools in preparing for any calamity.

During the two-day Climate Change road show dubbed "Iba na ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities", Assistant Secretary Raymund Liboro, said early warnings would lead to early actions of LGUs to prevent loss of lives, damage to properties and infrastructures during calamities.

Through the Science for Safer Communities, Liboro added that LGU officials and other disaster risk reduction managers will have a better understanding on the hazards in their own localities.

“Early warnings should be utilized by LGUs and government agencies to attain zero or minimal impact of any disaster,” he said.

He stressed that LGUs should also test their warning and communication protocols and build their response capabilities to gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of their warning system which are incorporated in their disaster risk reduction and mitigation plans.

“To generate accurate and reliable information, DOST, in partnership with other agencies and organizations, is upgrading its equipment for monitoring of any impending disaster such as high resolution hazard maps to capacitate local communities build disaster resilient and safer communities,” Liboro stressed.

He encouraged LGUs to widen their scope of disaster planning using imaginations to draw possible magnitude of any disaster eventuality.

“Planning the worst case scenario is better than facing the consequences of an unplanned disaster event,” Liboro told LGUs. (ALM/OTB-PIA2/Cagayan)