BAGUIO CITY, Dec. 16 (PIA) – – Outlining the importance of effectively conveying timely and relevant information that can help people make informed decisions during times of disasters or emergencies, the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC), spearheaded a webinar series on Risk and Crisis Communication for local DRRM officers, government information officers and other stakeholders.
The Office of Civil Defense – Cordillera spearheaded the webinar series on “Understanding the Prevailing Risk and Hazards in our Area of Responsibility”; “Technical Know–how and Proper Messaging of Warnings and Advisories for the General Public”; and “DRRM for Media”.
For the first leg held last Dec. 3, Engr. Hilario Esperanza talked on Hydromet hazards and outbreak/pandemic; Mines and Geo – Hazard Bureau (MGB – CAR) Geologists Vinalyn Marrero on Geological hazards and Patrick Pineda of Department of Health (DOH – CAR) on health risks and hazards.
For the second leg held Dec. 9, PIA Cordillera Information Officer II Jamie Joie Malingan and resource persons from PTV Cordillera, headed by Station Manager Richard Valdez talked about risk and crisis communication in various media platforms.
For the “DRRM for Media” conducted on Dec. 10, Malingan and Valdez along with Franzes Ivy Carasi, former OCD – CAR Information Officer and presently Narvacan Ilocos Sur Local DRRM Officer, talked about Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Journalism and on the importance of effective networking with media practitioners.
CRDRRMC Chairperson and OCD – CAR Regional Director Albert Mogol stressed that strengthening risk and crisis communication is directly proportional to strengthening resilience especially at the grassroots level in relation to the principle that “Knowledge is power”.
“In this webinar, we have three major objectives- to capacitate LDRRMOs and other DRRM stakeholders on the various means and strategies of risk and crisis communication; determine effective protocols to maximize disaster/crisis – related information sharing from the regional down barangay level, and to provide several communication platform options and tips on how to use them effectively,” Mogol said.
“In the Cordilleras, risk and crisis communication may be challenging due to the topographical setup and the concerns on internet community. Thus, various strategies and techniques utilizing various communication platforms should be established and strengthened,” he added.
Mogol calls for a continuing synergy in ensuring pro – active approach in dealing with multi – front disasters and in bringing disaster- resilient communities in Cordillera these remaining days of 2020 and beyond.
“Patuloy po tayong magtulungan upang paigtingin ang resilience dito sa ating rehiyon at sa buong Pilipinas. Sama-sama po tayo dahil and disaster risk reduction and management ay responsibilidad nating lahat,” he said. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
