BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - -The Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS)  reached out to media practitioners and communicators  in the Cordillera  in continuing efforts to  disseminate proper information  and  to heighten awareness and understanding  of  communities  about earthquakes and  necessary preparedness measures to ensure safety.  

Dubbed  PHIVOLCS InfoPress: Understanding and Communicating the “Big One” Scenario in the Cordillera Administrative Region, the  blended activity  last June  22 was attended by  about 180  media practitioners, government information officers and local disaster risk reduction and management  personnel  in the region,  on – site at Hotel Elizabeth, Baguio City  and via zoom.  

PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol outlined the important role of media practitioners and information officers in ensuring a well – informed and disaster resilient communities in this part of the country.

“This PHIVOLCS InfoPress recognizes the important role of the media in timely dissemination of quality information especially during emergency situations. That is why we aim to disseminate to our media practitioner partners and information officers so that only accurate information is relayed to the public, ” he said.  

It also  serves  as an  avenue to clarify commonly used terms in reporting volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis.

Bacolcol said they   partnered with DOST and PIA regional offices  to present the region - specific earthquake scenarios and the importance of these  in local planning and preparedness .

In the InfoPress, PHILVOLCS resource speakers provide learning sessions on common earthquake terms, science of earthquake scenario  especially those that may  have occurred in Cordillera,  earthquake preparedness,  and communicating earthquake hazard information.

The participants were engaged  in  a workshop on how to provide localized report on earthquake information and preparedness, as well as on reporting earthquake incidence and government response actions.

DOST – CAR Regional Director   Nancy Bantog,   expressed gratitude to all the participants for their support and commitment in pushing for disaster resilient communities in Cordillera.   

“Today, we are privileged to have this PHIVOLCS InfoPress: Understanding and Communicating the “Big One” Scenario in CAR. Through this activity, I am confident that this will enhance our knowledge and understanding the science – based earthquake scenarios and appropriate preparedness measures.”

“A well – informed citizenry is crucial in building a well – prepared and resilient community, thus,  each of us is tasked to widen our scientific knowledge and understanding as we help in communicating the “Big One” to our respective constituents”, Bantog said. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)