OCD, PIA orient gov’t IOs, media on DRRM to craft more effective disaster communication
By Niña Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Caraga, in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, successfully conducted a one-day orientation on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) for government information officers (IOs) and media practitioners in the region.
The activity, held in Butuan City on July 20, which gathered around 50 IOs and media partners, forms part of the initiatives lined up for the observance of this year’s National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) celebrated throughout July. It aims to strengthen the capacity of communicators in delivering accurate, timely, and effective messaging during disaster situations.
PIA Caraga Regional Head Venus L. Garcia formally opened the activity, giving her message of support and welcoming the participating public and private communicators.
“In times of crisis and natural calamities, timely and accurate information is just as critical as food, water, and medicine. It is the lifeline that guides our communities to safety, counters panic, and coordinates relief efforts,” said Garcia.
She likewise encouraged media practitioners and information officers to uphold accuracy, verify information before dissemination, and work closely with partner agencies to ensure the public receives timely, credible, and life-saving information during emergencies.
OCD Caraga Information Officer II Ronald Anthony P. Briol discussed the role of media and IOs in risk communication, highlighting the importance of clear and consistent messaging in guiding communities and building public trust. His session underscored the responsibility of communicators as vital links between technical disaster data and the general public.
“Communication is an important facet in disaster risk management and should be handled diligently. It has elements and various channels which could be used to maximize its efficiency and effectiveness,” said Briol.
He concluded the discussion by sharing a quote, “Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility, but leadership in communication starts with us.”
Meanwhile, Carlo Boneto C. Becera, information officer under the Operations section of OCD Caraga, addressed the issue of misinformation and disinformation in disasters. He emphasized the risks posed by false information during emergencies and provided strategies for detecting and countering misleading content to ensure that communities receive reliable updates.
To provide technical grounding, Engineer Ver Lancer Galanida, chief meteorological officer of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) Butuan, delivered a comprehensive session on understanding hydrometeorological hazards and risks in the Caraga region. His presentation equipped participants with knowledge on localized weather-related threats, enabling them to interpret forecasts and advisories for practical community use.
Finally, Niña Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante, information officer and DRRM focal person of PIA Caraga, shared insights on responsible disaster reporting and misinformation management. She underscored the ethical responsibility of communicators in disaster coverage, stressing the need to balance urgency with accuracy and to uphold the credibility of official information channels.
“Media practitioners and government communicators both play vital roles in combating misinformation and disinformation by verifying information, relying on credible disaster information sources and platforms, and promoting accurate information to support disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts,” she said.
Participants were also encouraged to obtain disaster-related updates from the appropriate authorities and to maximize the use of government-initiated disaster information platforms such as HazardHunterPH, GeoRiskPH, PANaHON, and PIA News platforms, which provide timely, credible, and life-saving information before, during, and after disasters.
The orientation reaffirmed the commitment of the Caraga RDRRMC, OCD, and PIA Caraga to empower IOs and media practitioners as frontline partners in disaster preparedness and response, ensuring that disaster communication in the region remains seamless, reliable, and responsible. (NJGD, PIA Caraga)