The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rattled Cebu—its tremors felt in Negros, Iloilo, and beyond—is another stark reminder that disaster preparedness is non-negotiable. Many believe that it is the government’s job. True—but it is also, fundamentally, our personal responsibility. And it should start long before a disaster strikes (and not end with a go bag).

For each family, the first line of defense is the home itself. How strong are its walls, beams, columns, and roof? Can they hold together when the ground shakes? Far too many Filipinos live in houses or buildings erected decades ago, structures that have already endured tremors that may have been shrugged off at the time. Cracks—even “scenic” ones we proudly show guests—are not just aesthetic relics of past quakes: they signal that the structural integrity has been compromised. That advice came from then Undersecretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. in Manila Bulletin’s Hot Seat interview years ago—and it should be turned into a slogan: Check your walls. Disaster preparedness begins at home.

Hiring a structural engineer to inspect and reinforce your home is not a luxury; it is a necessity. In the event of a strong quake, you do not want to gamble on guesswork. Yet too few of us take that step.

Then there is the go bag: probably the best-known element of disaster readiness. Water, canned food, medicine, a flashlight, radio, batteries, first aid—these are staples of what is recommended for a family to survive for three days or more after a disaster. But many people still pack these only once, then neglect them—never checking for expired medicine, dead batteries, or missing items. That’s a critical oversight.

Beyond structural and logistical readiness, the home is full of potential hazards. Every March, the Bureau of Fire Protection highlights the importance of inspecting your wiring—exposed, frayed, or poorly installed electrical lines can spark fires in the aftermath of collapsed walls or broken infrastructure. In past BFP campaigns, professional electricians have been deployed to barangays to help residents inspect their electrical systems—but many homeowners still fail to take advantage of this service.

Yet individual measures alone are not enough. Disaster preparedness must become part of the Filipino way of life—our daily habit, not a seasonal activity. Office of Civil Defense Assistant Secretary Cesar Idio has urged that readiness be embedded in everyday culture. And we are aware that the Philippines is among the most hazard vulnerable countries globally, sitting in both the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt.

The newly launched National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) 2024 adopts a multi hazard approach, improving coordination across agencies and integrating early recovery strategies. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed agencies to strengthen warning systems, coordinate releases from dams to avoid flooding, and beef up local government capabilities under programs like Operation Listo.

One of the more promising recent advances is the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act (RA 12287), which allows the government to issue a pre-emptive disaster declaration before an event occurs. This enables anticipatory actions—like evacuations, prepositioning of relief goods, and emergency fund disbursement—rather than waiting until after the disaster hits. This shift from reactive to proactive planning is exactly what disaster risk experts advocate, including the World Health Organization, which stresses anticipatory action as a critical element in saving lives and reducing damage during crises.

Even youth are being drawn into the preparedness conversation. In a forum co-organized by the UN and PAGASA, students were introduced to anticipatory action (AA) frameworks, showing how evidence based early steps can mitigate disaster impact. Engaging younger generations in resilience thinking builds a stronger culture over time.

Local governments and communities also have essential roles. Barangay earthquake drills, neighborhood evacuation planning, and community hazard mapping must be regular practice, not occasional exercises.

In our personal lives and in our communities, the time to act is now. Delay is a silent accomplice to tragedy. Call that structural engineer. Hire an electrician. Recheck your go bag. Participate in community drills. Learn what your barangay’s evacuation route is. Share hazard maps. Talk about disaster response with your family. Embed readiness into daily life, not just when headlines scream of catastrophe.

Let the recent quake in Cebu be the jolt that wakes us all. The next one will come—inevitably. The question is: Will we be ready? (Email: [email protected])