A-PAD PH completes its first batch of Risk Communications Planning Workshop for Luzon Partners
23 JUNE 2022, PASAY
– The Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management-Philippines (A-PAD PH) completed its first batch of Risk Communication & Community Engagement (RCCE) Planning Workshop entitled “Strengthening Risk Communications and Community Engagement in the New Normal” last June 22-23, 2022 at the Savoy Hotel Manila. The two-day event was participated by twenty (20) individuals representing eleven (11) multi-sectoral partner organizations from Regions 1, 3, and 5. DRR and Risk Management experts Mr. Anthony Zuniga (Risk Management/Learning and Development Practitioner); Ms. Lovelle Rago (Supervising Health Program Officer/Head-Operations Center of the Department of Health); and Ms. Abigail Guiang (Business Continuity Practitioner) facilitated the training. The workshop is one of the activities of A-PAD PH’s Education, Training, & Advocacy program that promotes effective and efficient disaster aid through preparedness, risk reduction, relief, and recovery.
“(A) sense of urgency is part of our DNA, especially in A-PAD PH. It is common behavior, a guiding principle, and purpose to save more lives in the least amount of time and make the community engaged and involved.”, A-PAD PH Board President Mr. Gilbert N. Albero emphasized in his welcome remarks. “Disaster Risk and Reduction Management is a wise investment to support NDRRMC’s goal of zero casualty and fast disaster recovery.”
The workshop is composed of five (5) modules with the following topics: (1) Communication vs. Risk Communication; (2) Risk Communication Perceptions; (3) Risk Paradigms; (4) Introduction to Communication for Development (C4D); and (5) RCCE plan implementation, maintenance, and adaptation. The event provided A-PAD PH partner organizations opportunities to update their risk communication and community engagement practices and processes, particularly in writing and drafting a Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) plan tailored to their regional context. Moreover, it served as a platform to share best practices and learn from one another.
“The RCCE Plan is the tool, while development is the goal.” Mr. Zuniga pointed this out during his lecture to highlight that there is no development without effective and inclusive communication.
In her closing remarks, A-PAD PH OIC-Executive Director Ms. Athea Penaloza emphasized that the workshop is a milestone for A-PAD PH and thanked everyone for their active participation. She hopes the participants will apply what they learned from the training.
“The training was well organized. It was well-planned, from the transportation to the accommodation to the training partner organizations.
Everything was considered for the participants to feel comfortable before, during, and after the training.” Ms. Lizel Macatangay of Philippine Information Agency Camarines Sur said. The participants thanked the A-PAD PH team and its guest facilitator of MOFA Japan. Another batch will be conducted this August for Visayas and Mindanao partner organizations. They plan to re-echo what they learned and recommend the RCCE Plan to their stakeholders.
This event is made possible by the generous support of MOFA Japan. Another batch will be conducted this August for Visayas and Mindanao partner organizations.
The first batch of participating organizations (in alphabetical order):
Albayanihan
Bicol University
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Camarines Sur Chapter
Kilusang Lima para sa Lahat MPC (K5 Coop)
Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital & Medical Center
Mariners Polytechnic Colleges (MPC)
Northwestern University
Office of Civil Defense Region 1
Office of Civil Defense Region 3
Philippine Information Agency Camarines Sur
Philippine Information Agency-Albay
Philippine Information Agency-Tarlac
Redemptorist Laoag
Trinity University of Asia
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