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| Philippine President Bongbong Marcos and DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. inspects the various technologies and innovations laid out during the launch of the Visayas leg of Handa Pilipinas 2023 last November 8, 2023 inside the Summit Hotel in Tacloban City. (Image Source: Philippine News Agency/Radio Television Malacañang) |
The Visayas Leg of "Handa Pilipinas 2023: Innovations in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Exposition" kicked off last November 8, 2023 in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) at the Summit Hotel in Tacloban City, Leyte. Bearing the theme “STY Yolanda Remembered: Understanding Risks and Preventing Disasters”, the three-day event highlighted the important technological innovations that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has developed when it comes to risk reduction and management, specifically for disaster preparedness, response, rehabilitation, and recovery.
The opening ceremony was attended by participants from local government units, national and regional government agencies, regional disaster risk reduction and management councils, volunteer organizations, non-governmental organizations, members of the academe, and representatives from the private sector. Persons of note also gave speeches during the ceremony including DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr., Leyte Governor Jericho L. Petilla, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, and, most importantly, His Excellency Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
In his speech, President Marcos Jr. said, “Putting our experience at the heart of this event reminds us of the calamity that brought unimaginable destruction to the Visayas and to the Philippines. It serves as a poignant reminder of the power of nature, and our vulnerability to that power." Stressing the need to prepare for any untoward event brought by natural hazards, the President said that there is a need to remember valuable historical information. “More importantly, it underscores the importance of disaster risk reduction and management in the Philippines… We owe it to ourselves and to the future to learn from this experience and make sure that such devastation will be mitigated or, somehow, prevented.” He continued, “The government remains committed to advancing our country’s disaster resilience. Of course, we have to recognize the role of the Department of Science and Technology in this undertaking." President Marcos Jr. also recognized the many efforts of the DOST in developing modern technologies that will address the natural hazards. “The DOST has been instrumental in developing cutting-edge technologies for disaster risk prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. I am confident that the technologies featured in this event will be of great help during relief and rescue operations… I implore everyone to maximize the use of these technologies, to fast-track the widespread adoption and commercialization.”
Sec. Solidum Jr., likewise, emphasized the significance of building the country’s resilience and how it will help the prosperity and security of the economy. In his opening message, Solidum said, “As we build the Philippines’ resilience, we are making Filipino communities more prosperous and secure than before. In the Department of Science and Technology, we believe that disaster risk reduction and wealth protection yield economic development. As we commemorate the 10th year anniversary of Supertyphoon Yolanda today, we are reminded of its lessons and experiences. First, science is the most crucial input to our resilience strategy. Second, science works with the right information, right communication strategy, right action at the right time. Third, we, the whole of nation and society, we all make the science work through our cooperation and collaboration.”
The Visayas leg exhibit of Handa Pilipinas features around sixty different technologies showcased on November 8-10, 2023 regarding various solutions on disaster preparedness, prevention, rehabilitation and recovery and other related fields. According to Sec. Solidum Jr., it aims to raise public awareness on preventable and solvable problems and to introduce innovations and Filipino-made technologies that are ready to be maximized by their fullest potential for disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation, and recovery. Solidum concluded, “Driven by our people-centric innovations, Handa Pilipinas sa Bagong Pilipinas. With science, technology, and innovation with our multi-stakeholder collaboration and the Filipino bayanihan spirit, we can be victors over disasters.”
