A-PAD PH's First Risk Communication Training under the New Normal

23 JUNE 2022, PASAY CITY – With the commitment to bringing effective and efficient disaster assistance through disaster preparedness, risk reduction, relief, and recovery, the Asia-Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Philippines (APAD PH) held the first batch of training on “Strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement in the New Normal.” , with participants coming from the different partner organizations in Luzon — from June 22-23, 2022 at Savoy Hotel Manila, Pasay City.

Mr. Anthony Ross Zuniga, Ms. Abigail Guiang, and Ms. Maria Lovella Rhodora M. Rago , the Supervising Health Program Officer/Head-Operations Center of the Department of Health, made a collaborative effort to share their expertise as resource persons’ for the 2-day training program.

“Sense of urgency is part of our DNA, especially in A-PAD PH. It is a common behavior, a guiding principle, and a purpose to save more lives in the least time and make the community engage and involve”, said by A-PAD PH Board  President Mr. Gilbert N. Albero in his welcome remarks. He also mentioned that we should invest in Disaster Risk and Reduction Management in order to achieve disaster risk-free Philippines.

Strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement in the New Normal is a 2-day training, skills enhancement workshop to provide APAD PH partner organizations a venue to improve and refresh their risk communication and community engagement practices and processes, especially in writing their Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) plan that tailor-fit to their regional context and in the New Normal.

“Communication is a tool, and development is a goal”, as Mr. Anthony Ross Zuniga pointed out during the facilitation, highlighting that there is no development without communication and the goal of risk communication is to connect with people and result in behavioral change.

The training workshop consists of five (5) modules which include the following topics: (1) Communication vs. Risk Communication, (2) Perceptions on Risk Communication, (3) Risk Paradigm, (4) Introduction for Communication for Development (C4D), and (5) Walkthrough and drafting of the RCCE. A people centered approach was applied in the modules.“ This training workshop is a pilot run of the “Strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement in the New Normal.” Training course for A-PAD PH; this is under development, and conducts another batch of this training for Visayas and Mindanao partner organizations”, Ms. Penaloza added.

Thanks to 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 Regions 1 & 3, Philippine Information Agency Albay, Camarines Sur, & Tarlac, Redemptorist Laoag, and Trinity University of Asia for supporting the initiatives of A-PAD PH.