ILOILO City – Students in Western Visayas are being mobilized to become advocates of disaster preparedness within their own families and communities as the government intensifies efforts to build resilience against earthquakes, typhoons, floods and other hazards through schools.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 is spearheading the initiative through the launch of Panatag Pilipinas 3.0, a nationwide disaster education campaign designed to equip learners with life-saving knowledge and practical skills they can share beyond the classroom.
La Paz National High School in Iloilo City was selected as the regional launch site on Tuesday, October 13, coinciding with the observance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) 2026.
OCD-6 regional director Raul Fernandez led the turnover of educational materials, including a USB drive containing disaster preparedness videos, brochures, OCD newsletters and informational posters.
The initiative seeks to transform schools into centers of disaster resilience, recognizing that students can play a crucial role in preparing their households for emergencies.
This year’s global theme, “Resilience Starts at Home,” has been localized through the campaign slogan “Panatag na Tahanan at Paaralan,” emphasizing the shared responsibility of families and teachers in protecting children against disasters and the effects of climate change.
Fernandez stressed that disaster preparedness must begin long before calamities strike, particularly as communities face threats from extreme weather events and other natural hazards.
He explained that climate change involves long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, including rising temperatures and increasingly severe rainfall that can disrupt homes, health and education.
However, he cautioned that not all natural hazards are caused by climate change.
“Mayroong lindol na dulot ng paggalaw nga (tectonic) plates. Kaya dapat maging handa sa ibat-ibang panganib. Mahalaga ang pagsunod ng instruction ng ating mga guro,” Fernandez said.
He underscored the importance of regular earthquake drills, particularly practicing the “duck, cover and hold” procedure, identifying evacuation routes and preparing emergency go bags containing essential supplies.
Fernandez urged students to bring the lessons they learn in school into their households, encouraging family members to take an active role in disaster preparedness.
“To our dear learners, dalhin niyo sa inyong tahanan ang mga aral. Encourage your family to prepare emergency Go bag, as much as possible sa bawat miembro ng family mayroong Go bag. So what you learned at school can protect your family at home and your community,” he said.
He emphasized that disaster preparedness should become part of everyday life rather than an activity undertaken only when a calamity is approaching.
“Alamin ang panganib, know the hazards sa inyong komunidad, sa inyong barangay. Dapat alam ninyo ang panganib na posibleng mangyari,” Fernandez added.
Beyond emergency response, the OCD official also encouraged environmental protection practices such as tree planting, proper waste segregation and electricity conservation to help address climate-related risks.
28 disaster education videos
Panatag Pilipinas 3.0, an expanded campaign of the OCD and the World Bank, features 28 educational videos covering preparedness measures for earthquakes, tropical cyclones, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and floods.
The materials are intended to make disaster education more accessible to students, teachers and school communities while encouraging households to adopt practical safety measures.
At the national level, the OCD, Department of Education (DepEd) and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) are launching the campaign at Rizal High School in Pasig City.
Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Harold Cabreros said schools were deliberately chosen as campaign launch sites because of their capacity to spread disaster preparedness knowledge beyond their campuses.
“Schools have been chosen as the center of the Panatag Pilipinas 3.0 campaign launch in recognition of their vital role in developing knowledge and skills for preparedness. The campaign highlights that what students, teachers, and other members of the school community learn in school can be brought home and shared with their families and communities,” Cabreros said.
He stressed that disaster education must be a two-way process, with families and schools continuously sharing knowledge and strengthening their readiness.
“Knowledge and skills acquired at home can also be brought to school and shared with others. Both homes and schools serve as important learning environments where preparedness is collectively promoted and practiced,” he added.
Through the campaign, authorities hope to establish a lasting culture of preparedness in which students, teachers and families understand the hazards confronting their communities and know how to respond when emergencies occur.
The United Nations General Assembly designated October 13 as the annual International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction to promote risk awareness and strengthen disaster resilience worldwide.
The observance coincides with ASEAN Day for Disaster Management, which highlights cooperation among Southeast Asian countries in reducing disaster risks and improving emergency preparedness./PN
