Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III discussed the Philippines' vulnerability to natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes at the Western Visayas Summit on Disaster Risk Reduction. He noted that the country's location and climate make it prone to these events, but emphasized that lives can be saved through preparedness and coordination. Pimentel drew on his own experiences with typhoons Ondoy and Sendong to stress the importance of awareness, planning, and community response. He urged locals to learn evacuation procedures, stock emergency supplies, and conduct regular drills in order to minimize loss of life when disasters do inevitably occur.

1. Disaster Risk Reduction
Lozañes
03/22/12
Our country’s location could be our greatest gift and greatest burden, Sen. Aquilino
“Koko” Pimentel III said.
The temperate weather that we have also attracts typhoons and other disasters, Pimentel
said during the Western Visayas Summit on Disaster Risk Reduction & Multi-Hazard Awareness
in West Negros University last March 17, 2012.
“In the years 2000-2007, eight of the deadliest typhoons hit the country, but more than
the economic damage that we experienced, death toll is more important”, the senator said.
He said that nobody can stop the occurrence of typhoons and disasters, but we can find
means and measures to minimize the losses because lives are more important.
Beside from the typhoons that frequently visit our country, Pimentel said that the slight
movement of the tectonic plate can cause tremors and our active volcanoes are beautiful but
sometimes deadly, adding it to our disaster woes.
Also a victim
“The staggering destruction of Sendong were almost beyond words”, the senator said as
he relates his experience being a victim of Ondoy and Sendong.
He added that hundreds of dead bodies lie on the ground, all victims of Sendong which
devastated Cagayan de Oro and Iligan last year, all nameless and can only be identified thru
numbers.
But thru parallel efforts of everyone who helped, Pimentel realized that Pampanga is the
coffin capital of the country, as he asked a good friend from Pampanga to provide coffins for the
victims. more

2. Disaster Risk Reduction/ Add 1
Be Automatic
When an 8.9 Magnitude earthquake hit Japan last March 11, 2011 and brought about 40
meter high Tsunami, the country, which invented the word “Tsunami”, could only do nothing,
Pimentel said.
“Japan installed precautionary systems to detect earthquakes and tsunamis, yet when
nature vents its full fury, we could really be defenseless”, he added.
He said that the cooling systems of the nuclear facility failed which caused explosion and
radiation; although thousands of people died, the number could be times five if Japan wasn’t
prepared.
When the alarms rang in Japan, the people automatically moved swiftly to their assigned
hills, if this would happen in the Philippines, the people might just laugh about it, he added.
“It’s not yet automatic, we want it to be automatic”, Sen. Pimentel stressed out.
Be aware, be prepared, take action
Be aware
The senator said that every action must begin with awareness, and the summit would be
presenting a scientific approach of facts, figures and mechanics of what to do and not to do in
times of disaster.
Be prepared
“Disasters will always happen. It’s not a question of if, but when”.
more

3. Every home must have an emergency bag also containing whistles and every community
should conduct disaster drills, Pimentel added.
Take action
“No one person can be solely responsible for Disaster Risk Reduction, we are responsible
for each other” Pimentel stressed out.
He added that every action that we do has a collective impact, the same way that we all
contribute to unnecessary flooding, cutting of trees and siltation of our rivers.
“I am satisfied with the Senator’s performance and projects and knowing that he’s still on
his eight month, he has done much. However, I would like to ask how quick is the national
government to respond to disasters particularly in the LGUs’ which are badly affected by the
calamities”, Dr. Liland Estacion, a Board Member of the First District of the Province of Negros
Oriental said.
The day long Summit presented resource speakers from DILG, NDRRMC, PHIVOLCS,
PAGASA and also from related sectors. Also present in the event were Bacolod City Mayor
Evelio “Bing” Leonardia, Vice Mayor Thaddeus Sayson, Councilor Espino and Councilor El Cid
Familiaran. #30