BACOLOD CITY (PIA) – More than 50 media personalities and government information officers (IOs) from across Negros Occidental are expected to join a seminar on Kanlaon Volcano risks and hazards communication.
This Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs)-led seminar is tailored for media practitioners and concerned government information officers from local government units and national government agencies.
“With Kanlaon Volcano being an active threat to the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, it is essential that both the authorities and the public understand the risks involved and the necessary measures to take in the event of an eruption,” said DOST-PHIVOLCS Director Teresito C. Bacolcol in a statement.
It intends to clarify commonly used volcano-related terms, present the updated volcanic hazards and eruption scenarios, and provide a guideline on properly preparing and responding to threats posed by Kanlaon Volcano.
Acknowledging the role of the media and government information officers in communicating crucial information before, during, and after a calamity or emergency, Phivolcs is keen on ensuring the accuracy and consistency of information being delivered to the public.
Dubbed “Phivolcs InfoPress: Understanding and Communicating Kanlaon Volcano Hazards and DOST-Phivolcs Information Products,” this gathering seeks to help the people of Negros Island Region (NIR) understand volcano information through the help of the local media and concerned government information officers.
“By providing public information officers and the media with the tools to communicate effectively, we can help ensure that messages about volcanic risks and safety measures are clear, consistent, and easy for the public to understand,” Bacolcol added.
Part of the seminar is the #MagingMapanuri campaign of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), highlighting means to dismiss false information in times of crises, particularly during the ongoing Kanlaon Volcano activity.
Phivolcs is in close partnership with various government offices and agencies, such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the PIA, and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, in strengthening science and risk communication to improve risk mitigation and disaster resilience among Negrense communities.
The seminar is set on February 19 at the Social Hall of the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City. (ED/BPS/PIA Negros Occidental)
