(Photo courtesy of PIA)
MANILA – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is intensifying public awareness campaigns and community preparedness initiatives ahead of World Tsunami Awareness Day on November 5.
PHIVOLCS Deputy Director Mylene Villegas emphasized the importance of disaster education, evacuation drills, and community participation to minimize casualties during tsunami emergencies.
Speaking during the Philippine Information Agency’s Impormasyon at Aksyon teleradyo program, Villegas said preparedness must remain a priority even when tsunami incidents are rare.
“Ang mas mahalaga ay kung ano ang maaari nating gawin ngayon bilang paghahanda para sa hinaharap,” she said.
Villegas explained that the United Nations declared World Tsunami Awareness Day in 2015 to promote disaster preparedness and encourage countries to strengthen their response capabilities.
She said PHIVOLCS continues to work with local government units, schools, and disaster management agencies in conducting awareness campaigns, educational activities, and evacuation exercises.
Unlike earthquake safety measures such as “Duck, Cover, and Hold,” tsunami preparedness requires immediate evacuation from coastal areas when natural warning signs appear.
Villegas identified three major warning signs of a possible tsunami: a strong earthquake that makes standing difficult, an unusual retreat of seawater from the shoreline, and a roaring sound coming from the sea.
She warned that communities near active earthquake sources face greater danger from locally generated tsunamis because residents may have only a short time to evacuate.
“When people near the coast experience a very strong earthquake, they should immediately move away from the shoreline and proceed to higher or safer ground without waiting for official instructions,” she said.
Villegas also clarified that PHIVOLCS issues “No Tsunami Threat” advisories following major earthquakes as part of established monitoring and warning protocols.
These advisories aim to provide accurate information, prevent misinformation, and reassure communities when monitoring indicates no tsunami threat.
Meanwhile, PHIVOLCS continues to support the UNESCO-led Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme, which encourages coastal communities to strengthen hazard mapping, evacuation planning, public education, and regular disaster drills.
Communities that meet internationally recognized preparedness standards receive recognition, subject to periodic renewal to maintain their readiness.
The agency also provides tsunami hazard maps, scientific monitoring services, and digital tools such as HazardHunterPH to help local governments assess risks and improve evacuation and contingency plans.
As part of its awareness campaign, PHIVOLCS is encouraging the public to join the tsunami awareness run scheduled for October 24 in Pasay City, beginning at 5 a.m.
Villegas stressed that disaster preparedness should become a regular practice rather than an activity undertaken only when an emergency is imminent.
“We cannot stop preparing simply because tsunamis do not happen frequently. Preparedness must be continuous,” she said.
She added that regular training and awareness activities could help communities respond more quickly and effectively when disasters strike.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening science-based disaster risk reduction and supporting government efforts to protect vulnerable coastal communities.
