OCD banks on citizen reportage during disaster
THE OFFICE of the Civil Defense in the region is banking on the active utilization of social media for real time reportage of disasters.
In a workshop held recently at the University of the Cordilleras, OCD Regional Director Andrew Alex Uy encouraged students, local government officials and academe personnel to take heed of the lessons learned from the July 16, 1990 earthquake.
The workshop was in preparation for the first city-wide earthquake drill that will happen on March 31 and educated students and teachers from different schools on the importance of having a prepared mindset, and how to use technology to save lives.
"By the time disaster strikes, you're on your own," said OCD-Car regional director Andrew Alex Uy. “Being prepared for a disaster is not just the role of officials, but also of all members of the community.”
The agency believes early reportage of disaster leads to early relief operations.
Officials from the OCD-CAR with Mayor Mauricio Domogan taught the proper procedure to duck, cover, and hold, in case one is caught indoors during an earthquake.
The Baguio-wide earthquake drill is set to enhance disaster preparedness of residents in case the Tubao fault line in La Union moves in an anticipated 7.2 magnitude tremor.
All sectors are being encouraged by OCD to join the city wide quake drill from business establishments, schools and universities, hospitals, barangay officials and residents.
Uy explained the 7.2 magnitude can cause very strong and highly damaging effect in Baguio– Benguet area based on the Earthquake Intensity Scale of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).