00:00Local government units or LGUs are the unsung heroes in disaster response as highlighted by the Department of Science and Technology
00:08or DOST during the Handa Pilipinas Mindanao campaign.
00:13A new alliance with SoxarGen LGUs aims to transform scientific knowledge into a powerful shield
00:20fortifying communities against nature's challenges.
00:24Rod Laguza tells us more.
00:27The role of local government units is highly crucial in mitigating the effects of disasters which can help save lives.
00:35This is what the Department of Science and Technology stressed during its Handa Pilipinas Mindanao Leg,
00:40a campaign of DOST on disaster risk reduction and management.
00:44With the Philippines again leading the World Risk Index for the third consecutive year,
00:48in large part due to the country being hit by different calamities every year,
00:50on the part of DOST, through Pagasa and Phibox, it provides vital information about natural hazards.
00:57The role of the early warning system is to provide people with time to prepare.
01:03Early warning triggers early action.
01:06LGUs should know how fast they can evacuate.
01:11Can the community evacuate in 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour or 1 day?
01:19For instance, Pagasa releases a 24-hour rainfall forecast, which LGUs can use for its evacuation.
01:26This is where the readiness of local government units comes in.
01:29In addition, the LGUs have tools they can use for its disaster mitigation efforts,
01:34such as the GRISPH, which is a platform dedicated to disaster risk reduction and management,
01:39which contains important data.
01:40Solidum said it is important that innovations are localized,
01:44as the role of LGUs are vital for the effective implementation.
01:48In relation to this, the DOST and local government units in Soxergen signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
01:54This includes strengthening the disaster resilience of the LGUs with the help of science,
01:58such as the conduct of capacity building, the training of the LGUs,
02:02and the use of GRISPH platform that will help them in planning.
02:06Disasters happen when we fail to make use of the available and reliable scientific information
02:13to guide our planning, decision-making, and action.
02:17Disasters happen when we fail to work together in responding to its consequences and impacts.
02:25The Secretary emphasized that disaster happens when forgotten
02:29or doesn't learn about the recent effects of the calamity.
02:31Rod Laguced, from the National TV Network, for a new and better Philippines.
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