MANILA, (PIA) — Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. stressed the need to redefine the Filipino context of resilience in order to truly achieve climate and disaster preparedness.
During the opening ceremony of the 2024 Handa Pilipinas: Innovations in Disaster Resilience Luzon Leg on Wednesday, July 3, Solidum posed the question, “Does survival imply resilience?” He explained that while Filipinos are often portrayed as resilient during disasters, characterized by a pleasant disposition in the face of hazards, this does not necessarily equate to true resilience.
The science and technology chief highlighted that the Philippines is prone to various hazards, including tropical cyclones, floods, and strong earthquakes, using Region I as an example.
He also cited geological evidence of major earthquakes occurring in the past in the Municipality of Currimao.
“We want to express our aspiration to become a community, a region, a country that is ready and prepared against hazards,” Solidum declared. He emphasized that the Handa Pilipinas expo aims to heighten public awareness and knowledge of natural hazards and the latest technologies for disaster preparedness.
Solidum shared that the key to building climate and disaster resilience is to move beyond the Filipino cultural norms of merely “surviving” and “smiling through” disasters. He stressed that this mindset is a deterrent to achieving true resilience, as it lowers the standards for the quality of life that Filipinos should strive for.
The DOST secretary outlined three important goals to guide the government in achieving resilience: reducing various risks prior to hazard occurrence, ensuring efficient response to disasters, and improving the management of complex, worst-case scenarios.
Solidum emphasized the need for evidence-based local land-use plans, investment in infrastructure resilience, and the preparedness of businesses and the economy to withstand and recover from disasters.
“Handa na po ang Pilipinas sa maliliit na trahedya. Local government kayang-kaya,” he said. “But we are not prepared for large-scale events. We are there preparing, but we still need to do more, that is why we have [the Handa Pilipinas] campaign.”
The Handa Pilipinas: Innovations in Disaster Resilience expo, which runs from July 3-5, 2024, aims to help spread public awareness and knowledge towards disaster preparedness and showcase the latest technologies developed by DOST and its partner organizations for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
