DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum agreed, during the previous HANDA Pilipinas press conference that there’s a need to assist the LGUs in determining which resiliency technologies are needed, citing that there are some technologies where it’s enough for the provincial government to have it, but not necessarily one per municipality. And there are other technologies where it will help for each LGUs to have one. The Local governments can tap DOST to assist them in determining which technologies or tools are necessary to acquire at their level.
The purchase of resiliency or DRRM equipment or gadgets should also be planned well, Solidum added. While not everyone can be provided for or can acquire all the technologies, there are technologies, such as PlanSmart of DOST which are free, and all they have to do is request DOST-PHIVOLCS to provide them with the training.
In one of the previous HANDA Pilipinas forum held in Ilocos, Romeo B. Ganal, Jr., PAGASA Senior Weather Specialist discussed the multi-hazard impact -based forecasting and early warning system for the Philippines which is based on international standards.
“There’s a paradigm shift from the traditional forecast, halimbawa, sinasabi natin dati ‘ito ang lagay ng panahon’ to impact-based forecast, wherein sasabihin na natin, ganito ang maaring mangyayari sa ganitong lagay ng panahon,”
(There’s a paradigm shift from the traditional forecast, for instance, we used to say, this is the weather, to impact-based forecast, wherein we’ll say these are what will likely to happen given this weather.)
Ganal added that no matter how accurate the weather forecast is, but if those on the ground will have difficulty in understanding or interpreting the forecast, the warning issued will not be of much use.
There’s a limitation to what a forecast agency can do, Ganal further said. There’s a need to make people in the localities understand, interpret appropriately, so they can take appropriate action in order to save more lives.
This October 2-4, 2024 the last leg of HANDA Pilipinas for this year will take place in General Santos, Mindanao at the KCC Convention Center. This year’s theme:” Innovate, Empower and Collaborate: Building Disaster Resilient Mindanao,” will focus on enhancing Mindanao’s resilience through Science, Technology, and Innovation.
HANDA PILIPINAS is DOST’s flagship program for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) which aims to enhance the country’s resilience by raising awareness on disaster risk reduction technologies of DOST and other agencies, and accelerating the practical use of DOST-developed, funded, and supported innovations and technologies for disaster risk reduction and management.
The event’s participants are the LGUs, local chief executives (LCEs), other government offices, and the general public.
The HANDA Pilipinas-Mindanao, will showcase the various disaster resilience technologies that would give opportunity to the technology exhibitors and LGUs, especially the disaster reduction and risk management (DRRM) program implementors and LCEs to discuss the technology features, costs, operations and other relevant issues that they may need to help them determine which technology could help their LGUs save more lives in times of disaster.
Aside from the exhibits, there will also be brief lectures during the three-day event. Among the plenary discussions are the following: Green Resilience: Harnessing Bamboo for DRRM and Sustainable Economic Growth; Empowering Local Government for Effective Disaster Preparedness; LGU Innovations in Addressing Challenges; Environmental Radiation Monitoring; Flood Forecasting and Warning Systems, and many others. Here’s the link to the registration: https://bit.ly/handamindanaoleg (DOST-TAPI, Media Service)
