Baguio: The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) emphasized the need for disaster risk management, preparedness, and resilience to be integral to the Filipino lifestyle due to the ongoing threat of natural calamities. 'In recent months, we all experienced the successive battering of typhoons Crising, Dante and Emong, which destroyed properties, flooded communities and caused rivers to overflow,' stated OCD Assistant Secretary Cesar Idio during the opening of the three-day Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Summit.
According to Philippines News Agency, Idio stressed that disasters are unpredictable in terms of time, day, or location, thereby necessitating preparedness as a daily practice, not just during typhoons but as a cultural norm. He noted that the regional DRRM summit is part of continuous efforts to broaden the campaign on preparedness and participation before, during, and after disasters.
Idio highlighted that the Philippines is hit by approximately 20 typhoons annually, with 70 percent occurring from July onwards. Senator Loren Legarda, through a video message, emphasized the Cordillera region's vulnerability to disasters, recalling the magnitude 7 earthquake in Abra in 2022. She mentioned a 2024 Harvard study that ranks Cordillera highly in preparedness, scoring 24 out of 50 in planning, training, investment, information, and social support.
Legarda urged collaboration among government entities, private sectors, civil society, and communities to support local adaptation initiatives such as rainwater harvesting, food gardens, renewable energy, zero-waste practices, and planting bamboo or mangroves to mitigate landslides and coastal erosion. 'Reducing risks and saving our planet are tasks no one can afford to overlook,' she said, highlighting that disasters exacerbate inequalities, affecting the most vulnerable populations.
The summit, postponed from July due to recent storms, brings together DRRM practitioners, local leaders, civil society groups, and academics as part of National Disaster Resilience Month.
Meanwhile, OCD-Cordillera Director Albert Mogol acknowledged the role of indigenous peoples' (IP) knowledge and practices in enhancing community safety during disasters. He cited Sadanga in Mountain Province, where the late Mayor Gabino Ganggangan utilized binnadang, a cooperative culture, during the pandemic to sustain the town with shared resources.
Mogol explained that binnadang manifests during disasters through unprompted neighborly assistance and community support in various events. He also mentioned that traditional rituals, such as animal sacrifices led by mambunong (native priests), are performed annually to seek ancestral guidance, a practice locals believe has protected them from major disasters since Typhoon Ompong in September 2018.
He emphasized the importance of integrating indigenous practices with science, technology, and innovation (STI) to build more resilient communities. 'When we blend our cultural values with STI, we create a Cordillera region that is both rooted in tradition and prepared for modern challenges,' Mogol concluded.