The key to disaster preparedness and risk reduction is adequate knowledge and awareness.

It is important to update ourselves with appropriate information regarding natural disaster or hazard that may occur which can result to loss of life and property, said Jerry Bionat, Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) executive officer.

According to the 2012 World Risk Index, the Philippines ranked third in the list of the most disaster-prone nations in the world.

The country is continually facing challenges brought about by typhoons, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes.

It will be recalled that Iloilo was struck by a magnitude 5.6 earthquake recently, causing suspended operations in some government agencies and schools.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. said a motion was approved to re-align the amount of P5 million from the 2012 Annual Budget of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program.

This is under the item Other Maintenance and Operating Expenses (MOOE) as subsidy to local governments declared under a state of calamity.*PIA