MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on Filipinos to be more proactive in preparing for disasters following a series of strong earthquakes that recently struck different parts of the country.

In his vlog titled “Handa sa Sakuna” (Ready for Disasters), the President said that beyond disaster response and recovery, preparedness should become an integral part of the Filipino way of life.

“Disasters are part of our country’s reality, that is why disaster preparedness should also be part of who we are,” he said. “We should not only respond to disasters but also learn from the lessons each one brings. The new Filipino is wiser and more prepared.”

The President urged every household to create a disaster plan and ensure that all members, especially children, are familiar with it. This includes identifying evacuation areas, meeting points, and safe zones.

He also advised families to prepare a “go-bag” — an emergency kit containing essential items such as important documents, canned food, biscuits, water, first aid supplies, medicines, hygiene kits, flashlight, whistle, lighter, radio, and emergency cash.

“When disaster strikes and your family needs to evacuate, you won’t have to panic and scramble for what to bring, because everything is inside the go-bag,” he said.

Marcos also emphasized the importance of getting accurate information during emergencies. He urged the public to rely only on official announcements from government agencies, local government units, law enforcement authorities, and reputable news organizations.

“Beware of fake news. In the recent earthquakes in Davao and Cebu, many were misled by false information, and some were hurt because they panicked and fled unnecessarily,” the President warned.

He assured Filipinos that both the national and local governments continue to enhance their disaster response capabilities.

“The DSWD and even local government units have food packs and go-bags ready and prepositioned in our warehouses,” Marcos said. “The communication and information drive of government agencies has also been strengthened to further educate our citizens.”

The President also urged regulators to ensure that policies on the construction of all infrastructure projects “must be strictly followed and implemented with full integrity.” (INQ)