In a significant move to enhance local resilience and understanding of natural hazards, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has released sourcebooks on earthquake and volcanic hazards written in Hiligaynon. The materials, developed under the DANAS (Disaster Narratives) Project, were officially handed over to the University of the Philippines Visayas and other stakeholders on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in Iloilo City.
Dr. Ma. Mylene Villegas, Phivolcs Deputy Director and DANAS Project Leader, announced that the sourcebooks for Mindanao and Visayas were introduced in late November and are now being distributed for use by UP Visayas. She emphasized the importance of utilizing these resources to improve community resilience and hazard comprehension.
UP Visayas Chancellor Dr. Clement Camposano praised Phivolcs for advancing science communication through the use of local languages. He stressed the importance of agencies like Phivolcs, the Department of Science and Technology, and universities recognizing the value of local language and experiences in understanding and addressing community situations.
Donna Magno, Iloilo City’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, explained that the sourcebooks simplify scientific terms related to earthquakes, focusing on the magnitude 8.2 Lady Caycay earthquake that struck Panay and Iloilo on January 25, 1948. The DANAS Project aims to educate people about earthquakes through narratives, enabling them to use this knowledge for self-protection.
The city government plans to reprint these materials through the Public Information Office for distribution to local barangays, ensuring wider community access to this vital information.