DISASTER-READINESS VIDEOS AIM TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT PREPAREDNESS

The Philippines, being in what is called the Pacific Ring of Fire, is a favorite pit stop of typhoons, which, in turn, can result to flash floods, storm surges, earthquakes, and landslides.

While we cannot do anything to stop these natural disasters from happening, we can, at least, prepare ourselves for it.

As part of its advocacy to promote a culture of preparedness among Filipinos, Smart Communications launched a series of disaster-readiness videos that will educate children and, with hope, their parents on how to prepare and what to do when disaster strikes. The Maging Laging Handa video series provides safety tips and explain how various calamities come about. The videos feature Tonipet Gabba and lovable puppet characters: Inay Lena, a mother hen; Brownie, a fun-loving dog; and Kali, a carabao. They sing and dance to all-original songs that speak of disaster-related concepts such as typhoon signals and rainfall warning.

“It’s good to include the children, as early as now, in the entire preparedness exercise as we try to become a nation that is more capable and ready for all types of disasters,” says Smart Public Affairs Group head Ramon Isberto.

The videos and its content were all reviewed and approved by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Aside from being distributed and shown in schools as part of the disaster risk reduction curriculum, the video is also available for free viewing at www.smart.com.ph/SafePH. You can also download apps Batingaw and Project Noah, which help in disaster communications and response.