{"id":4913,"date":"2024-09-17T09:04:38","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T09:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diinsiderlife.com\/?p=4913"},"modified":"2024-09-17T09:12:57","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T09:12:57","slug":"pangasinan-youth-disaster-risk-reduction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diinsiderlife.com\/index.php\/2024\/09\/17\/pangasinan-youth-disaster-risk-reduction\/","title":{"rendered":"Pangasinan Youth Lead the Charge in Disaster Risk Reduction"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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by Dominic Gutoman<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

It was the onslaught of Typhoon Pepeng (international name: Parma) in October 2009 that radicalized Kevin Conrad Ibasco, a youth leader and the founder of the Pangasinan Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PYDRRM), about the necessity of community engagement and participation in times of disaster and structural disparity.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cI was nine years old then. I witnessed the social inequalities and even misinformation that exacerbated the situation and massive flooding in Pangasinan. This is what prompted me to become a youth leader and initiate advocacy,\u201d Ibasco said in Tagalog in an interview with Diinsider Life.<\/p>\n\n

Pepeng was often discussed on the sidelines. It was the typhoon that followed Tropical Storm Ondoy (international name: Ketsana), which crossed Central and Northern Luzon three times. Since they hit the Philippines consecutively, they resulted in a large number of casualties<\/a>: 956 deaths, 736 injured, and 9.3 million severely affected out of an estimated population of 43.2 million in the affected regions.<\/p>\n\n

Ondoy primarily ravaged the National Capital Region of the Philippines, while Pepeng affected Central and Northern Luzon, where Pangasinan is located. More than a decade later, the Philippines continues to suffer from exacerbated disasters, ranking first<\/a> as the most disaster-prone country in the world out of 193 countries, according to the World Risk Index 2023. Moreover, Pangasinan has also been<\/a> listed as one of the most hazard-prone provinces in the country.<\/p>\n\n

Role of Youth in Mainstreaming DRRM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

PYDRRM is a youth-led non-governmental organization (NGO) championing disaster risk reduction and management, science, and journalism in the province of Pangasinan since 2020. Currently, it has around 148,000 followers on social media, its main platform for information and education initiatives.<\/p>\n\n


Photo by Pangasinan Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management<\/em><\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe initially started with more than 200 members across the province. Since it was the pandemic back then, many people really turned to social media for information and engagement,\u201d said Ibasco.<\/p>\n\n

Their organization is divided into five divisions: (1) Meteorology and Geology Division, (2) Astronomy Division, (3) Environment and Climate Change Division, (4) Public Safety Division, and (5) AsinBolo, the official media arm of PYDRRM. This structure shows that disaster response should be approached with a multi-faceted and integrated strategy.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cYouth has a very significant role when it comes to DRRM. We can go beyond the traditional response \u2013 only responding to the disaster when it comes. As youth, we can spearhead information dissemination proactively,\u201d said Ibasco.<\/p>\n\n

PYDRRM is known for situation monitoring in 4 cities and 44 municipalities in Pangasinan. They also conduct youth-led hazard mapping and post daily weather and tropical cyclone updates, advisories, heat index information, and official statements. Besides information dissemination, they organize free telescope viewing in their communities, humanitarian relief operations, and other civic engagement initiatives to amplify the advocacy for DRRM.<\/p>\n\n

With the success of their initiatives, they have also partnered with more than 100 organizations in their seminars and capacity-building activities, primarily composed of other youth organizations, publications, student councils, and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) \u2013 a community council that represents the youth at the barangay level in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWhen we integrate the creativity and critical thinking of the youth, we can ensure that no one is left behind. That is the core of our advocacy,\u201d said Ibasco.<\/p>\n\n


<\/strong>Photo by Pangasinan Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Reflections of Empowered Youth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\u201cFor me, the nature of DRRM is very intersectional. It is not only isolated to [natural] science. DRRM can also tap into social science since it involves human agency. It involves holding accountability to the powers that be,\u201d Ibasco said.<\/p>\n\n

Since PYDRRM is engaged in information dissemination within their province, Ibasco highlighted the role of actively combating misinformation and disinformation to elevate disaster response.<\/p>\n\n


Photo by Pangasinan Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management<\/em><\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe are conducting fact-checking. We always integrate science in combating fake news while we appeal to the latest trends for the youth and the general population to understand the severity of disasters. We try to adopt hugots<\/em> (relatable sentimental quotes) and memes,\u201d Ibasco added.<\/p>\n\n

Given the success of their platform in their locality, they are now registered and accredited by the local government\u2019s Provincial Youth Disaster Council and the national government\u2019s National Youth Commission (NYC). Ibasco has also guided some youth-led DRRM organizations in other localities, such as Bulacan Youth for DRRM.<\/p>\n\n

However, the limitation of their organization lies in policymaking. Some politicians see their initiative as a form of competition instead of tapping them for collaboration. \u201cWe hope in the future, we can help in policy-making. Even if we want to, the reality is they [the provincial government] are not receptive to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

In the 2022 Global Assessment Report of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), children and youth were dubbed the \u201cuntapped human resource in DRR policy implementation\u201d who can drive behavior change. They have a critical role in disaster communication as reliable communicators, and they can only be maximized if the duty-bearers recognize them as drivers of change instead of passive victims.<\/p>\n\n

Redefining resiliency<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\u201cThere is no such thing as a natural disaster. Disaster involves human agency; it always has levels of severity, in which accountability should be sought,\u201d Ibasco said.<\/p>\n\n

This reflection by Ibasco is also emphasized by the UN and its affiliated bodies. The UN underscored that while natural hazards like earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods are natural phenomena, the disasters that result from them are not natural but are a product of human actions and decisions.<\/p>\n\n

A key example of this is when natural hazards intersect with human vulnerabilities such as poorly constructed buildings, inadequate infrastructure, deforestation, and a lack of preparedness and early warning systems. Two communities might experience the same hazard, but the one with better infrastructure and a preparedness plan will suffer fewer casualties and less damage.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe should redefine resiliency. There is nothing wrong with it. But we should not romanticize it, especially if it is being used to escape accountability. There should be a concept of responsibility in ensuring public welfare,\u201d said Ibasco.<\/p>\n\n

The call for accountability is amplified when environmentally destructive projects such as deforestation, aggressive mining, and poorly planned development projects are permitted by the government, which can significantly worsen the disaster risk situation in the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n

In Pangasinan alone, PYDRRM has released a petition<\/a> against large-scale iron ore offshore magnetite mining that will affect 9,252.4506 hectares of land. They highlighted that the project will directly impact coastal and marine resources, exacerbate climate and disaster risks, permanently alter natural ecosystems, and economically displace fisherfolk communities. The project was covered by a Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement approved by the Office of the President in November 2020.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cTo have a disaster-resilient country, it means that no one is left behind. It means that the government should work hand-in-hand with the people, and they should be held accountable and called out if they are negligent in times of disaster,\u201d Ibasco said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Dominic Gutoman It was the onslaught of Typhoon Pepeng (international name: Parma) in October 2009 that radicalized Kevin Conrad Ibasco, a youth leader and the founder of the Pangasinan Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PYDRRM), about the necessity of community engagement and participation in times of disaster and structural disparity. \u201cI was 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Dominic Gutoman It was the onslaught of Typhoon Pepeng (international name: Parma) in October 2009 that radicalized Kevin Conrad Ibasco, a youth leader and the founder of the Pangasinan Youth for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PYDRRM), about the necessity of community engagement and participation in times of disaster and structural disparity. \u201cI 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