05 November 2021 - In observance of the World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD), the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) held a virtual InfoSentro sa PHIVOLCS to highlight the series of tsunami-related initiatives to help develop tsunami-ready communities through multi-sector activities.

“Fourteen million people living in coastal areas of the Philippines can be affected by tsunami,” warned DOST Undersecretary and PHIVOLCS Officer-in-Charge Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr. “This highlights the need to prepare our community that involves international and national organizations,  local governments, and private sectors,” he said.

During the online event viewed via Zoom and Facebook Live, DOST-PHIVOLCS showcased the Nationwide Tsunami Coping Capacity Initiatives platform as an output of the three-year Consultation (e)Workshop for a Harmonized Program on Tsunami Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in collaboration with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and local DRRM officers. DILG’s Local Government Academy (LGA) introduced the Listong Pamayanan: Tsunami Toolkit and Community-Based Preparedness to bring tsunami preparedness at the grassroots level. The results of the planning workshop on tsunami preparedness and response of DOST-assisted Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Metro Manila were also presented. The Institute partnered with DOST-National Capital Region (NCR) to raise awareness among the business sector as a large-scale tsunami will have a huge impact on the economy.

DOST-NCR Regional Director Jose B. Patalinjug III also emphasized the importance of international and local partnerships in the implementation of tsunami capacity-building activities. DOST-PHIVOLCS hopes that different sectors and communities will continue to work together to advocate Tsunami DRR.

#WTAD2021 #TsunamiReadyPH #HandaAngMayAlam #HandaPilipinas #TsunamiDay #OnlyTogether