Sen. Loren Legarda’s appeal for the government, the media and other stakeholders to promote disaster risk reduction (DRRM) and climate change adaptation down to the grassroots resonates even after the country managed to overcome the worst of typhoon Ruby last week.
In her speech on “Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction Reporting in Journalism Education Curriculum in ASEAN Countries” in Manila last week, the senator, a known environmental advocate, emphasized that DRRM is not a seasonal issue “but is timely and relevant.”
Two good laws have been passed to institutionalize public response.
The Climate Change Act and the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act should focus action on reducing risks to communities and building their resilience against calamities, Legarda said.
The challenge is in the doing.
Is public awareness and cooperation to implement these laws being fostered among Filipinos? It should be. One way to do so is through social media, which continues to gain a foothold among the middle class and the masses.
Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, said netizens can help play a big role by disseminating relevant, verified and updated information on rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts by the government and the private sector before, during and after every calamity.
While traditional media generally has a handle on how to secure, process and disseminate information to the public, this sadly isn’t the case with social media which can spread unverified information even faster than TV, radio and print could.
A case in point was the so-called persona non grata declaration made by the Japanese government against broadcaster Korina Sanchez-Roxas after she commented that it would have been better if typhoon Ruby went to Japan instead of the Philippines.
While Sanchez did make the tactless comments, it was not true that she was officially condemned by Japan.
The source of that bit of online gossip was a website known for satirizing the news.
It was a false alarm.
It did, however, invite a ton of tirades from netizens who expected more from the lady broadcaster, wife of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas who also bore the brunt of jokes for falling off a motorcycle in Leyte.
Snide comments aside, the power of traditional and social media in shaping the public’s mindset towards DRRM and climate change cannot be denied.
It has to be harnessed collectively by stakeholders to motivate every Filipino to contribute consistently his share in protecting the environment because by doing so, he protects his home, his neighbors and the country.
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