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Community mobilisation for early warning in the Philippines

Zenaida G. Delica
Citizen’s Disaster Response Centre, Global Forum of NGOs for Disaster Reduction, 72A Times St., West triangle Homes, Quezon City, Philippines. Fax: +632-924-0386,
E-mail: cdrc@mnl.sequel.net

Abstract:
One of the many lessons learned by the victims of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption is that the aftermath can be even worse than the eruption itself. The victims acknowledged the necessity for disaster preparedness, one aspect of which is the understanding of the warning of the coming lahar during the rainy season. The residents of a community of the Province of Pampagna were saved by the early warning issued by their people’s organisation (PO). The PO leaders mobilised its members at the most critical time, to alert the residents, who had also already been trained by the PO. After an hour, the village was under lahar, but no-one died. The early and timely warning saved the people. This paper will deal with the community-based approach in early warning.