Now is the time for the public to turn its passive awareness of various disaster risks into resilience, allowing communities to withstand the impacts of natural and man-made calamities and facilitate swift recovery.

This was emphasized by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) as it kicked off the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) on Tuesday, July 1, in Makati City. This year’s celebration carried the theme: “KUMIKILOS — Para sa Kahandaan, Kaligtasan at Katatagan!”

“Awareness alone doesn't equate safety, and consciousness doesn't guarantee minimized impacts,” said Asst. Sec. Cesar Idio, OCD deputy administrator for operations. “Disaster preparedness is not a one-time goal, rather a dynamic and evolving practice that persistently requires sustained effort and constant progress.”

To turn the public’s awareness into action, the OCD expanded its “Panatag Pilipinas” disaster preparedness campaign.

Launched in 2024, the Panatag Pilipinas utilized a comprehensive suite of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials online to deliver key messages before, during, and after a disaster through 60-second infotainment videos.

Now, the infotainment videos will be shown on public screens in select malls, cinemas, and properties nationwide. This campaign also seeks to address disaster misinformation and disinformation that is rampant on social media.

Actor and military reservist Jose Sixto “Dingong” Dantes, who serves as the campaign ambassador of Panatag Pilipinas, said that Filipinos should embody the culture of preparedness as the country is prone to different disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions among others.

“It’s better to be proactive than reactive,” said Dantes, who holds a rank of major in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) reserved force. “Often times, we just react when there is calamity but in reality, we know how important it is to be prepared.”

The OCD has partnered with the World Bank and Ayala Foundation Incorporated to broaden the reach of its disaster preparedness campaign beyond digital platforms and into everyday spaces.

“We come together to build a more resilient Philippines, one where every Filipino is safer, more informed, [and] better equipped to face the growing threats of disasters and climate change,” World Bank Country Director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Zafer Mustafaoglu said in a message delivered by World Bank Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Ms. Fides Borja.