Project Agos: LGUs to get training on social media for disaster communication

MANILA, Philippines – Local governments are at the frontlines of disaster management, but how equipped are they to handle multiple streams of information in the digital age?

Rappler, in partnership with the Australian Embassy in the Philippines and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), hopes to equip local government officials on the use of social media for disaster information management and for increasing awareness of climate change and its impact.

The first capacity building workshop will be held on November 17, Monday for LGUs of the National Capital Region (NCR) at the Asian Institute of Management, Makati.

The event – to be attended by some 70 local executives, disaster managers and representatives of civil society – will highlight how social media can be used as a tool to improve disaster preparedness and response at the community level.

Among the world’s most populous countries, the Philippines is the most disaster prone according to the 2012 World Risk Report. Metro Manila is no stranger to the devastation caused by extreme weather events like heavy rains and typhoons. Past typhoons – like Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009 and Mario (Fung-wong) in 2014 – have demonstrated to LGUs the need for reliable realtime sources of information that can aid in planning and decision making.

The workshop participants will receive training on how to use social media tools like Twitter and Facebook as well as how to use innovative online platforms like Project Agos. The participants will also provide feedback to Rappler’s citizen engagement arm, MovePH on how media can aid local governments during times of crisis.

Launched in September 2013, Project Agos is an information and communications platform that combines top-down government action with bottom-up citizen involvement to help communities adapt to climate change, and become better prepared for disasters. It is operated by MovePH in partnership with the Philippine government and civil society organizations like the Philippine Red Cross and World Vision. (READ: #ProjectAgos: One-stop shop for climate change)

The LGU capacity building workshop in Metro Manila is just the first in a series of workshops that will be held across the country. Support for the workshops is provided by the Australian Embassy in the Philippines. (READ: #ZeroCasualty: How good governance saves lives)

Project Agos partners include national government agencies, international and local non-governmental organizations, local government units, and private groups. – Rappler.com

For more information, contact David Lozada at david.lozada@rappler.com.