Legarda launches Disaster Preparedness and First Aid Handbook

MANILA, Philippines -  The Disaster Preparedness and First Aid Handbook prepared by the Senate Committee on Climate Change chaired by Sen. Loren Legarda will be launched today.

Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, said the handbook aims to educate citizens on how to prepare for and respond to both natural and human-induced hazards.

The manual was completed in collaboration with the following agencies: Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS); National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Vigan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

“Amid calls for better disaster preparedness in our country, I believe we should focus on one key lesson: disaster prevention starts long before a typhoon makes landfall, before an earthquake happens or before a volcano erupts,” Legarda explained.

The handbook includes basic information on the causes, possible risks, what to do during and after the occurrence of hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, tropical cyclones, flood, storm surges, thunderstorms, tornadoes, landslides, heat waves, structural collapses and fire.

“Early warning and early action should be at the very heart of our efforts. Through this manual, I strive to help everyone understand the risks we face and equip ourselves with preventive measures to lessen the impact of natural hazards,” Legarda stressed.

“We must be ready to face all kinds of hazards – natural and human-induced. We need to build our resilience to disasters today, as well as our resilience to climate change in the future, for a much safer environment for citizens to live in,” she added.

Furthermore, as part of the commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction on Oct. 13, Legarda encouraged everyone to share the manual with their families, neighbors, and people in their communities to develop, support and strengthen community-based disaster preparedness plans.