This was the statement of science and technology chief for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Myra M. Alih in today’s opening ceremony of Iba na ang Panahaon Science for Safer Communities (BaSulTa-ARMM leg) in Zamboanga City.
Secretary Alih told participants that the concept of the activity is partnership. “Remember, during disaster the DOST does not have the sole mandate but everybody, particularly the local government unit (LGUs), is also responsible,” Alih said.
She said the forum would provide the local government unit with valuable information like disaster maps that will help concerned government agencies and LGUs prepare the communities and save lives.
She encouraged participants to fully participate in the forum with the other technologies that the DOST could offer to the LGUs and other government agencies.
“The ARMM areas, particularly the island provinces are becoming highly vulnerable to strong winds and waves as the area has already been frequented recently by typhoons,” Alih said as she recounted some incidents happening in these places that were never experienced before.
She recalled that Sulu had recently experienced unusual strong waves and flooding, destroying houses of some coastal and urban communities. In Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, frequency in the cancellation of boat trips to and from nearby Zamboanga City has increased, affecting mobility and economic activity of the island province.
“We are not safe anymore in travelling and [unfortunately] we have to cross the sea to travel to Zamboanga City. And because of Climate Change, our mobility has become limited,” she said.
“The ARMM is no longer typhoon-free,” she declared.
Alih said that with the impact of the changing climate has reached alarming level, the DOST has developed technologies and early warning devices that could help mitigate the impact of disasters to vulnerable communities.
“We cannot stop Climate Change. The only way is to prepare,” she noted.
Some 55 local chief executives, government line agencies, members of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, and the media gathered for the two-day forum (April 23-24) at Garden Orchid Hotel in Zamboanga City.