TACLOBAN CITY — Disaster response officers from across Northern Samar have undergone specialized training on earthquake hazard simulation and risk assessment tools as part of efforts to strengthen the province’s disaster preparedness and response systems.
The five-day capacity development training on the rapid earthquake damage assessment system (REDAS) was conducted for Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMOs) through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
The training aimed to enhance the technical capabilities of municipal disaster officers and planners in using scientific tools for hazard assessment, risk analysis, and disaster planning.
Participants were taught how to generate hazard maps, simulate earthquake impacts, and assess risks related to ground shaking, liquefaction, landslides, and tsunamis, among other natural hazards.
Through hands-on workshops and guided simulations, the participants were introduced to data-driven approaches that could support disaster preparedness, contingency planning, and evidence-based decision-making at the local level.
During the opening program, Northern Samar Vice Governor Clarence Dato emphasized the importance of preparedness for earthquakes, noting that such disasters strike without warning and require strong readiness from communities and local governments.
Dato said integrating REDAS into the province’s disaster risk reduction and management plans would help build a more comprehensive and modern safety framework for residents.
The training also supports the development agenda of Governor Harris Ongchuan, particularly the goal of strengthening local governance by improving the skills, systems, and tools used by local government units in disaster preparedness.
Provincial officials said the activity is part of ongoing efforts to institutionalize the use of REDAS in local planning and emergency response mechanisms, promoting a proactive and science-based disaster risk reduction strategy in Northern Samar.
They added that the continued use of scientific tools such as REDAS helps improve the province’s disaster resilience by equipping frontline responders and planners with advanced hazard assessment capabilities.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
