The recent magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rocked Cebu and nearby islands — followed by days of aftershocks — has once again reminded us how vulnerable we are in the face of natural disasters. No one can predict when an earthquake will strike, but we can reduce its devastating effects through preparedness, science-based policies, and strict implementation of safety protocols.

More than 165,000 families have been affected, with over 39,000 homes damaged, hundreds injured, and dozens confirmed dead. These numbers are not just statistics — they are lives forever changed. And as we count the damage, we must also count the lessons we must finally act on.

We are not without tools. We have an active National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and local governments have made strides in preemptive evacuations and relief efforts. But there is still much more we – the government and the citizens – can do to reduce destruction before disaster strikes.

One timely development is the filing of House Bill 4035 last August, which mandates the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its agency, the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority NAMRIA to produce multi-hazard maps for every city and municipality. These maps, updated every three years, will help identify vulnerable areas — including fault lines, flood zones, landslide-prone slopes, and areas at risk of sinkholes and subsidence.

The bill states that the task will be undertaken by the DENR and NAMRIA together with the Department of Science and Technology, Philippine Space Agency, Climate Change Commission, NDRRMC, the concerned local government units (LGUs) and other relevant government agencies with existing hazard mapping projects and satellite imaging capabilities.

If passed, this law will strengthen the implementation of Republic Act 12287, which allows the government to declare a State of Imminent Disaster and take preemptive action before a calamity occurs, Parañaque Rep. Brian Yamsuan, who filed the bill, said. Knowing where hazards are — and integrating that into land use planning, building permits, zoning, and development — is a step toward resilience.

Another tool is the “five-meter zone of avoidance” which refers to a safety zone meant to prevent construction and settlement directly on or too close to the fault line, which could move or rupture during an earthquake. For example, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recommended enforcing a five-meter “zone of avoidance” along the Bogo Bay Fault. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has already been mobilized to patrol and enforce this safety buffer — a commendable move that other high-risk areas should replicate.

Meanwhile, the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is investigating the sudden appearance of sinkholes and ground subsidence in quake-hit areas, especially those with karst terrain, which are highly vulnerable to collapse. Their findings will be crucial in guiding local zoning laws and emergency response plans.

Technology is also on our side. Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. cited science-based tools that local government units (LGUs) must adopt. These are the HazardHunterPH which identifies hazards in a given location; How Safe is My House mobile app that helps assess structural safety; GeoRiskPH which provides geospatial hazard assessments; REDAS app which estimates damage after earthquakes; and Project OMEGA which uses AI and remote sensing for hazard modeling.

President Marcos Jr. has emphasized that disaster response must happen now, not later. Work can start at evacuation centers, often the default shelter, which may not be safe if their structural integrity is compromised.

Disaster resilience is not just about reacting after the fact — it's about anticipating, preparing, and reducing risk before tragedy strikes. Every fault line identified, every unsafe structure vacated, every community trained, and every law enforced is a life potentially saved.