CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA 7) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST 7) kicked off the Visayas leg of the ‘Handa Pilipinas 2024’ in Cebu City to showcase and promote the latest innovations in disaster and climate resilience in the Visayas regions.
“Overcoming adversity is achieved not just by an unbreakable spirit but also by a variety of innovative solutions that can help prevent a repeat widespread destruction and loss of lives,” said DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Dr. Sancho Mabborang in his opening remarks.
Mabborang said DOST is conducting the event to serve as a platform to demonstrate Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRMM) related technologies and innovations that can help government, businesses, and civil society in preparation for and in response to disasters and calamities.
The event promotes GeoRiskPH, led by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), to provide protocols and platforms to share hazard exposure and risk information.
GeoRiskPH offers a comprehensive range of tools and information, including hazard maps, risk assessments, early warning systems, and decision support tools.
“These resources enable stakeholders to identify areas of vulnerability, assess risks, and make informed decisions to reduce the impact of disasters,” added Mabborang.
Attended by over 380 participants mostly coming from the Visayas with some from Luzon and Mindanao, the event features a series of fora and exhibits of the Filipino-made technologies that are ready for adoption and transfer.
The technologies presented address the four thematic areas of the DRRM framework, namely: disaster prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness, disaster response, and disaster rehabilitation and recovery.
These technologies aim to help individuals, communities, local governments, and national agencies to prepare and plan to mitigate the risks posed by natural hazards.
Handa Pilipinas was conceptualized by DOST Sec. Renato U. Solidum, which started in 2023 with the aim to build climate and disaster resilience among Filipino communities and institutions.
“Science, technology, and innovation is crucial to addressing the challenges in disaster risk reduction and staying ahead of the curve in disaster management. This is why we bring Handa Pilipinas to our communities,” said Solidum in his video message.
Mabborang added that the event had already been conducted in the National Capital Region (NCR) in the past years, until he decided to bring the event to the different islands of the country.
“Ang intensyon po talaga is to be able to inform the public, the general public, about DOST’s doing in connection with DRRM [Disaster Risk Reduction Management]. Kaya last year, sinimulan natin ang paglipat-lipat, kaya ngayon may Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and with that you will appreciate,” he said.
(The intention is to be able to inform the general public about what DOST is doing in connection with the Disaster Risk Reduction Management or DRRM. So last year, we started bringing it to other areas. That’s why we now have Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for you to appreciate.)
During the 2023 event, DOST was able to showcase 236 technologies, with 54 local government units (LGUs) from Mindanao and four LGUs from Luzon that signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the use of the technologies.
Among the technologies introduced is the Mobile Command and Control Vehicle (MOCCOV) with triage technology.
MOCCOV is equipped with a variety of tools and equipment such as a weather monitoring station, a rescue quadcopter drone, global satellite communication and surveillance equipment, and rescue medical equipment.
It also features mobile applications such as the Hazard Hunter geoanalytics and Geomapper.
“These serve as handy and easily accessible tools to help our citizens and planners assess hazards and make informed decisions in relation to potential geological or volcanic hazards,” said Mabborang.
DOST-7 officer-in-charge regional director Dr. Tristan Abando hopes they can also forge partnerships with LGUs in Central Visayas on the adoption of the technologies showcased during the three-day event.
“We hope that after this Handa Pilipinas three-day exposition, we can forge more partnerships and collaborations and we can sign Memorandum of Understanding with the local government units here in Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Negros Island Region, and the entire Philippines especially focusing on the adaption of this technologies,” said Abando. (JJT/PIA 7)
