To further enhance preparations during typhoons, the Office of Civil Defense has directed local disaster officials to localize and laymanize the data given to them by national government agencies for a more effective information dissemination of important typhoon updates.
“I see a gap in local dissemination,” OCD Administrator (OCD) Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a pre-disaster risk assessment this afternoon.
The civil defense chief issued the statement amid feedback on the transmission of vital information about severe tropical storm Kristine, which battered many areas in the country last week.
“Let’s take on the challenge. Let’s tap the capability of regional officials to translate important data to the local dialects to make them more practical, understandable, and meaningful to the communities and to the decision-makers such as the local government units (LGUs),” Nepomuceno said.
He also sought the immediate cascading of advisories to the LGUs and media outlets.
Meanwhile, Nepomuceno has also requested the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration to immediately and continuously inform the OCD on any unusual or red flag advisories.