The Philippine government, through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), has provided critical support for individuals affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants provided a lull in the nearly two-year battle.
OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno led the turnover of the country’s contribution to the Humanitarian Air Bridge Campaign of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan during a ceremony at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (NDRRMC) Operations Center in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City last Friday.
The essential supplies included 8,323 bonnets, 3,187 pairs of gloves, and 20 blankets.
“This collaboration is a powerful testament to the strength of international solidarity and the importance of working together in times of crisis. With the ongoing humanitarian needs in Gaza, it is crucial that we step up and provide aid where it is most needed,” Nepomuceno said.
The items were received by representatives from the Jordanian Honorary Consulate and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“We stand in solidarity with all those impacted by this tragedy and recognize the urgency of the situation,” Nepomuceno said.
According to the civil defense chief, the country’s assistance reinforced the Philippines’ role as a “compassionate partner on the global stage” that is “committed to alleviating human suffering.”
The conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023.
A ceasefire came into effect last month as the ongoing crisis that crippled Palestine already killed more than 61,000 in the Gaza Strip alone while 14,000 more remain missing and are presumed dead, according to reports. Thousands more were reportedly killed in Israel, making estimates go as high as 69,000.
OCD priorities
The OCD said it is focusing on three “priority actions” this year to further improve the country’s national civil defense and disaster risk reduction and management program.
Nepomuceno shared that the agency wants to push for amendments to Republic Act No. 10121 or the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010"; improve the country’s early warning system; and embark on an educational campaign on disaster resilience.
Speaking in the “Bagong Pilipino” podcast on Saturday, Feb. 8, Nepomuceno shared that the agency wants the law that created the NDRRMC to be amended so an executive committee within the Council could be created.
“Foremost of our plans is to have amendments to the law that created the NDRRMC. One of the amendments we are requesting is to allow us to create an executive committee that will be in charge of making major decisions. Currently, we need the full council to do that,” he said.
Whenever a calamity strikes, the full Council, consisting of 41 government agencies and five private sector representatives, convenes to decide on matters relative to disaster response, raising issues on the promptness of the government to respond to the needs of the people.
The OCD chief noted that “time is of the essence particularly during disasters.”
“We believe that we would be able to do more if the law will be modified,” he said.
Improved warning system
The OCD also seeks to improve the country’s early warning system apart from text alerts and advisories released online to heighten disaster mitigation efforts.
“With the help of the DENR [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] and the DOST [Department of Science and Technology], we want to be more creative and more comprehensive in our warning system,” Nepomuceno said.
He cited as an example the nationwide warning system of Thailand which has over 600 towers with sirens.
Apart from the sirens, Nepomuceno said Thailand also has a public address system that tells the people what to expect every 10 to 15 minutes.
He noted that a more responsive warning system is an essential tool that would enable early action during times of emergencies, thus, protecting lives, livelihood, and properties.
Educational campaign
Nepomuceno said the OCD is planning to conduct an educational campaign on disaster resilience which specifically targets the youth, local government units (LGUs), and disaster responders.
He said the initiative would be carried out with the help of its partners from the media.
“Being the first responders, we want our LGUs to be empowered and accountable for their own localities. Some LGUs are still dependent on the national government. But it takes a while for us to arrive in their areas during disasters,” he said.
“They should accept the responsibility and take the necessary actions such as investing in rubber boats for rescue operations,” he added.
Last Friday, the OCD mounted its first tsunami preparedness webinar to enhance the public’s knowledge about the deadly hazard.
OCD Deputy Administrator for Operations Director Cesar Idio said the webinar aligned with the agency’s proactive approach on disaster risk reduction, as the country seeks to build safer, adaptive, and disaster-resilient communities.
Back in December last year, residents of Ilocos Sur were gripped with fear when successive earthquakes struck off the coast of Santa Catalina town, exposing the country’s vulnerability to tsunami.
Fatima Mendoza Moncada, a science research specialist from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), explained that tsunami is a Japanese word that means harbor waves. The consecutive giant waves, Moncada said, are a result of four geological processes, namely earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and meteorite impacts.
Focusing on tsunamis generated by earthquakes, Moncada discussed the distant and local tsunamis. Distant tsunamis originate from a faraway source while local tsunamis are generated from a nearby source, posing greater danger because of the short lead time.
Moncada cited experiences of survivors from previous tsunamis in the Philippines such as those in Moro Gulf in 1976 and in Mindoro in 1994. She underscored that Filipinos should no longer wait for warnings from Phivolcs, OCD or the local government units once they see the usual “shake, drop and roar” signs of a local tsunami.
The “shake” refers to a strong earthquake that will knock people down, the “drop” or the sudden change in the sea level, which at certain times may not occur, and the “roar” or the roaring sound of incoming waves.
At the forefront of promoting disaster preparedness at all levels of governance, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched “Operation Listo”, or the national advocacy program for disaster preparedness.
According to Robin Lim, project manager of the DILG Central Office Disaster Information Coordinating Center, Operation Listo protocols are not only for local chief executives but for all community and barangay officials as well.
For his part, Dr. Satoru Nishikawa, senior adviser at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and a key figure in Japan’s disaster policies, emphasized that the Philippine government should make the most out of the best lessons learned from disasters.
Nishikawa cited 18 percent of all major earthquakes on Earth are happening in Japan, but fortunately, their country has a long tradition of coping with natural disasters.
He said it is important to ask what went wrong and right with pre-disaster countermeasures.
Apart from making substantial investment in disaster risk reduction to foster resilience, he also underscored the significance of preparing for disasters.