DMMMSU partnered with the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) and the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) in the launch of the Disaster Narratives for an Experiential Knowledge-based Science Communication Sourcebooks (DANAS) Project in Cagayan de Oro on November 27, 2024.

Representing DMMMSU, VP for Research, Development, and Innovation (URDI) Dr. Angelina T. Gonzales participated as a panelist during the press conference, highlighting the critical role of localized communication in enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience in Northern Luzon. She emphasized how the DANAS Sourcebook can serve as a valuable educational resource for schools and universities. DANAS Sourcebook integrates disaster narratives into the curriculum to promote student awareness and preparedness.

Dr. Jesus Rafael B. Jarata, DANAS Project Component Leader for Northern Luzon, leads the collection of disaster narratives from survivors of the 1990 and 2022 earthquakes in Ilocos and Abra, with fieldwork extending to Baguio, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and La Union. The project also focuses on developing Ilokano-language materials to make scientific information more accessible to local communities.

As a two-year project funded under the DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), Project DANAS harnessed the experiential knowledge of laypeople from past disaster events through in-depth interviews conducted in local languages, using the collected information to understand how communities prepared for and made decisions during natural events such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

The DANAS Project underscores the critical role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in advancing science communication and fostering disaster-resilient communities across the Philippines.

-jrbj