Phivolcs touts advancements in disaster resilience as it marks its 70th founding anniversary

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) will showcase its “past and present” technologies and innovations that contributed to resilience-building, as part of its 70th founding anniversary celebration on June 20-24.
The celebration is anchored on the theme, “Upholding the Mandates, Breaking Science Frontiers for a Gender-Inclusive, Disaster-Resilient Philippines.”
Among the weeklong activities include a webinar titled, “InfoBit@PHIVOLCS 70th year: Kabataan, Handa ang may Alam” on June 20, which is a mix of lectures and virtual exhibit tour for learners in Grades 6 to 12, and a symposium titled, “Advances in SEVENTY (Science and Technology in Years) and DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduction Management” on June 21.
The symposium will feature Phivolcs’ past and present technologies and innovations that ensure the safety of Filipino communities during disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunami.
Likewise, Phivolcs has prepared activities for its employees, such as a photo sharing contest, “time capsule collection,” and team-building.
Phivolcs was first established as Commission on Volcanology (COMVOL) on June 20, 1952 after the destructive eruption of Hibok-Hibok Volcano in December 1951.
COMVOL underwent several reorganizations until Jan. 30, 1987, wherein by virtue of Executive Order no. 128, the National Science and Technology Authority became the Department of Science and Technology, granting Phivolcs its present mandate to mitigate disasters that may arise from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami, and other related geotectonic phenomena.