SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) conducted a seminar-workshop aimed at improving geohazard communication, ensuring consistent information dissemination during emergencies, and enhancing public preparedness in La Union and Pangasinan.
It was held on September 18 at the J&V Hotel and Resort in this city.
The seminar-workshop, titled “PHIVOLCS InfoPress: Understanding and Communicating Geologic Hazards in Region 1,” aims to bridge the communication gap between science communities and the public by engaging both the public and private sectors.
Around 30 participants, including government and private media representatives, public information officers, and frontline employees from the DOST, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 1, and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 1, attended the event.
Dr. Teresito Bacolcol, DOST-PHIVOLCS director, said the role of information officers and media practitioners in shaping public attitudes towards hazards like tsunamis and earthquakes is crucial, as they serve as the primary channels through which accurate, timely, and life-saving information reaches the public.
“The DOST-PHIVOLCS invites media practitioners and information officers to partner with us in this activity, given their crucial role in building well-informed, better-prepared, and more resilient communities in the Philippines,” Bacolcol said.
The seminar covered key topics such as commonly used terms in geologic hazard reporting, the impact of various tsunami and earthquake scenarios in the Ilocos Region, and proper responses to geological hazards like earthquakes.
La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David, meanwhile, emphasized the vital role of effective communication in enhancing disaster preparedness, stressing the need for clear and reliable information.
“We share the collective responsibility to ensure that the messages we convey about disasters are accurate, consistent, and easily understood by the public,” Ortega-David stated.
Albert Caoile of Radyo Pilipinas Agoo, one of the participants, acknowledged the training’s significance in helping media personnel deliver accurate and timely news during disaster coverage.
“Malaking tulong at mahalaga ito sa ating mga mamamahayag, hindi lamang para sa mabilis kundi sa paghahatid ng tamang balita sa panahon ng sakuna tulad ng lindol,” Caoile said.
(It is very helpful and important to our journalists, not just for quick reporting but also for delivering accurate news during disasters like earthquakes.)
A similar activity was conducted at the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac City on September 19 for participants from the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.
The Ilocos Region is vulnerable to geological hazards due to the presence of several active faults, including the Manila Trench, Philippine Fault, West Ilocos Fault System, Abra River Fault, and the Naglibacan Fault.
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit provinces in Northwestern Luzon on July 27, 2022, also affected La Union, registering a PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale VI, or very strong. (AMB/CCMT, PIA La Union)
