The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) launched its new campaign dubbed “Panatag Pilipinas” on Monday, November 25, to improve the country’s disaster preparedness by raising awareness among the population about the various risks associated with natural disasters and man-made emergencies.

TOC Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said the disaster risk communication campaign aims to equip Filipinos with vital knowledge and skills to respond effectively in times of crisis. It was launched by the OCD in partnership with the World Bank (WB) and the Global Fund for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.

“The Panatag Pilipinas initiative aims to improve the country’s disaster preparedness by raising public awareness about disaster risks and climate risks. Its objectives include reshaping perceptions on disaster management and promoting proactive responses to significantly mitigate the impacts of disasters,” Nepomuceno explained during the launching ceremony on Monday, November 25 in Quezon City.

According to the Global Risk Index 2024, the Philippines is the country most at risk out of 193 countries assessed by the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum in Denmark and by Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft (Alliance Development Works).

The Philippines scored 46.91 among countries assessed based on its levels of exposure, vulnerability, susceptibility, lack of adaptive capacity and coping skills to crises, including extreme natural disasters , conflicts, pandemics and wars.

“Iyan ay hindi karangalan (It’s not an honor). Nagtop tayo dyan, ‘yan ay isang babala (We are at the top of the list but this should serve as a warning),” Nepomuceno said.

Nepomuceno stressed the importance of the campaign, especially after the country was recently devastated by successive typhoons that claimed hundreds of lives and caused billions in damage to the agriculture and infrastructure sectors.

Nepomuceno said the agency wants to help Filipinos understand typical reactions and emotions during disasters while providing essential protection measures for themselves and their loved ones. “If they understood the risks, they would know what to do. We need to help them know what to do in the event of a disaster,” he stressed.

Through the Panatag Pilipinas campaign, the OCD will utilize a comprehensive suite of information, education, and communication materials, including videos, audio files, and engaging graphics for social media.

These will be distributed using various platforms such as social media, digital billboards and monitors in public spaces such as airports, bus stations and city halls among others.

By leveraging these resources, Nepomuceno noted that the campaign aims to “create well-informed citizens who can make sound decisions in times of emergency.”

Actor and Philippine Navy reservist Major Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III is the campaign ambassador. The official campaign slogan was “Alam ng Pinoy Ang Dapat Gawin Para Maging Ligtas sa Panahon ng Sakuna,” while the official hashtag #PanatagAngMayAlam highlights the importance of informed action to protect communities.

Dantès will deliver key messages before, during and after a disaster through 60-second infotainment videos covering the most common hazards in the country, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tropical cyclones, floods, landslides and tsunamis.

“In the community, the delay can be significant for the use of disaster preparedness. Siguro, we find it intimidating or baka masyadong maraming information kaya nawawalan ng pake ang iba (In communities, the discussion about disaster preparedness is always accompanied by fear. Maybe we find it intimidating or maybe we there’s just too much information, which is why some don’t care to participate),” Dantès said.

“The launch campaign is the simplest, most Hindi-relevant of preparedness information, and the most accessible, especially on social media. Kapag mas madaling maunawaaan, mas maraming tao ang makikinahagi (The goal of this campaign is to make our messages about preparedness simpler, more accessible, not scary and more relatable, especially on social media. If the message is easier to understand, more people will take part in it),” he added.