CLARK FREEPORT ZONE — Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. called on communities to become champions of resilience, saying disaster preparedness should help Filipinos not just survive, but thrive.
Solidum made the call during the Handa Pilipinas 2026 Luzon leg held in Clark Freeport Zone.
“What is missing? People. People create resilience,” Solidum said.
He said national agencies can provide science, technology, and information, but it is up to local governments, barangay officials, and residents to put them into action.
According to Solidum, anyone who learns to understand risks, prepares their family, and shares what they learned is already a champion of resilience.
“In fact, once a person participates in Handa Pilipinas, once they learn to understand their risks, use available information, prepare their families, and share what they have learned, they are already kampiyon ng katatagan or champion of resilience,” he said.
He added that resilience should not only be measured by survival, but by a community’s ability to protect livelihoods and continue developing after a disaster.
“Our ultimate goal is to enable communities to thrive despite disasters, not only to survive,” he said.
Solidum also introduced the ASTIG approach — Applying Science, Technology, and Innovation in Governance — which means understanding the real problem first before finding a solution.
Under this approach, local governments are encouraged to gather data, work with universities and researchers, and choose technologies that fit the actual needs of their community.
He said Handa Pilipinas aims to connect scientific knowledge to practical actions that improve safety and development, and urged participants to share what they learned with their families and communities.
The post DOST chief urges communities to become champions of resilience first appeared on Pampanga News Now.