Vice President Sara Duterte called on local government units (LGUs) to strictly enforce the National Building Code and other safety standards, emphasizing that disaster resilience begins with strong infrastructure and proactive preparedness.
In a video message marking National Disaster Resilience Month, Duterte underscored the importance of vigilance and early action in a country frequently affected by natural disasters.
"Hindi natin mapipigilan ang paglindol o ang paglakas ng mga bagyo, ngunit nasa kamay natin ang pagpapatibay ng ating imprastraktura at komunidad," Duterte said.
The vice president recalled the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Southern Mindanao last month on the opening day of classes in public schools, saying the disaster claimed more than 90 lives and injured over 1,000 people. She also cited the recent effects of Typhoon Inday, which, despite not making landfall, intensified the southwest monsoon and triggered floods and landslides that resulted in 15 fatalities.
Duterte challenged LGUs to strengthen the implementation of building regulations, inspect evacuation centers, and improve emergency response protocols to better protect communities from future disasters.
She likewise urged Filipino families to take an active role in disaster preparedness by ensuring the safety of their homes, monitoring emergency alerts, preparing survival kits, identifying evacuation routes, and participating in emergency drills.
"Let us refuse to let tragedy be our only teacher. Readiness must live in every barangay, every school, every business, and every household," Duterte said.
The vice president concluded her message by encouraging the public to make the observance of National Disaster Resilience Month meaningful through concrete action, stressing that preparedness and collective responsibility are essential to safeguarding Filipino communities from the impacts of natural hazards.
