Tandag promotes disaster preparedness through science-based public education
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur (PIA) — Recognizing that informed communities are more resilient than those who are not, the city government of Tandag intensified its disaster preparedness campaign through a Facebook live webinar on Tropical Cyclone and Earthquake Preparedness as part of its observance of National Disaster Resilience Month.
Organized by the Tandag City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the online learning session equipped residents with science-based knowledge and practical preparedness measures to help reduce disaster risks and protect lives. The initiative supports the national government’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda by fostering a culture of preparedness and empowering communities to become active partners in disaster risk reduction.
Resource persons from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST–PAGASA) and DOST– Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) shared expert insights on tropical cyclones, earthquakes, and tsunami preparedness, emphasizing that timely and accurate information is one of the most effective tools in saving lives.
Leading the discussion on tropical cyclone preparedness, Blaise Christian Perez, hydro-meteorologist and project technical specialist of DOST–PAGASA, stressed that while extreme weather events cannot be prevented, their impacts can be significantly reduced through early preparedness and informed action.
“We cannot control the weather, but we can control how ready we are,” Perez said.
He encouraged the public to stay updated with official weather bulletins and to follow the guidance of local disaster risk reduction authorities during emergencies.
“Always listen to the local authorities because they know better,” he emphasized.
A native Tandaganon, Perez explained tropical cyclone warning signals and rainfall advisories in the vernacular, making technical weather information more understandable and relatable to the community. He said that understanding official advisories enables families to make timely decisions that can save lives and minimize property damage.
Perez also reminded households to prepare emergency go-bags, develop family emergency plans, identify evacuation routes, and rely only on verified government information before, during, and after disasters.
“The more we prepare, the more resilient we become,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mark Louegie Juarbal of DOST–PHIVOLCS discussed the topic ‘Understanding Earthquakes and Tsunami Generation,’ emphasizing that the Philippines remains one of the world’s most hazard-prone countries due to its geographic location along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Juarbal reminded participants that, unlike tropical cyclones, earthquakes cannot yet be predicted or forecast.
“An earthquake can happen anytime,” he said, stressing the importance of constant preparedness rather than waiting for warnings.
He encouraged families, schools, workplaces, and communities to practice earthquake drills regularly, identify safe evacuation areas, and familiarize themselves with appropriate actions during and after an earthquake or a tsunami. He also urged the public to rely on official advisories issued by PHIVOLCS and local authorities to avoid misinformation during emergencies.
The webinar forms part of Tandag City’s continuing efforts to strengthen disaster resilience through public education, recognizing that preparedness begins with awareness and that informed citizens are among the strongest assets in reducing disaster risks.
By promoting science-based risk communication and encouraging proactive community action, the city Government continues to cultivate a culture of preparedness where every individual contributes to building safer, more resilient communities.
As climate-related hazards and geological risks continue to challenge vulnerable communities, initiatives such as this demonstrate that resilience is built not only through infrastructure and emergency response systems but also through knowledge, preparedness, and shared responsibility, advancing the vision of a Panatag na Bagong Pilipinas. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)
