After pandemic, Odette
The MaGHANDA information caravan will revisit and recalibrate the learnings from the local government perspectives, specifically the local officials and disaster managers, as the worsening effects of climate change and the development of new technologies in the field of disaster science are crucial to public safety and resiliency.
Short for Meteorological and Geological Hazard Advisories, Warning & Notifications for Decisive Action, MaGHANDA aims to provide a clearer understanding of all the warning messages on natural hazards such as earthquakes, storm surges, typhoons, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions for a better response action among LGUs, with the local and national media as conduits to disseminating accurate information where and when needed.
Science & Technology Sec. Fortunato de la Peña said that with the recent upgrade in the COVID-19 alert level classification, the LGUs, as the country slowly prepares to return to its pre-pandemic status, should now start revisiting its disaster management protocols, and recalibrate it to include aspects of the new or better normal.
“Sa pangalan pa lang ng proyektong ito, nais nating iparating sa ating mga kababayan ang kahalagahan ng tamang impormasyon tungkol sa mga panganib na dulot ng mga kalamidad, na maaaring maiwasan ang pagkasira ng mga ari-arian at pagkawala ng buhay, kung tayo lamang ay nakapaghanda dahil sa wastong kaalaman,” explained de la Peña.
The project will provide a learning management system where the LGUs can access on their own, free of charge, the vital information they would need to be prepared.
It will also come up with 26 IEC topics on the different hydro-meteorological and geographical information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration and the Philippine Institute for Volcanology & Seismology to be distributed to all the cities and municipalities nationwide.
It will also produce public service announcements on disaster warning information to be broadcasted in various platforms and media networks.
Together with the Department of Interior & Local Government, MaGHANDA will develop an updated disaster risk-reduction and -management contingency plan with considerations of the New Normal protocols.
It targets at least 7,549 participants from the seminar-workshops in all 17 regions and is expected to capacitate local chief executives, disaster managers, and first responders on the latest disaster information and early warnings for appropriate actions.
“We hope this collaboration will once again reap the fruits of the combined efforts to realize our dream for an empowered citizenry who understand the risks and do the appropriate actions in the face of natural disasters,” said de la Peña.
MaGHANDA was launched March 16 with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement signed by DOST USec for Scientific & Technical Services Renato Solidum Jr. and DILG USec for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño. (PR)
