• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Tuesday, Sept. 15 underscored the need for accurate, timely and coordinated communication as a critical component of disaster preparedness and response.
Speaking at the Information Officers’ Provincial Summit 2026 themed “Bantay-Kalamidad: Grassroots Communication Strategies for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Lacson said communities need more than relief and emergency assistance when disasters strike — they also need reliable information to make decisions that could save lives.
“When calamity strikes, our people need more than assistance. They need information,” Lacson said, stressing the need to tell communities what is happening, which areas are affected, what they should do, where they can seek help, and what the government is doing in response.
He said communication must be treated as an essential part of disaster preparedness, alongside evacuation centers, equipment, response teams, early warning systems and relief supplies.
Lacson cautioned information officers against the pressure to release information ahead of verification, particularly as reports, photos and videos can spread rapidly during emergencies.
“Our responsibility is not simply to be first. We must also be right,” he said.
He noted that unverified information could create confusion and undermine public confidence not only in government information offices but in government itself.
“Information that is delayed, unclear, incomplete, or incorrect can also prevent people from making the right decisions for their own safety,” Lacson said, emphasizing that disaster communication is ultimately a matter of public trust.
He also highlighted the importance of a grassroots approach, noting that disasters are experienced differently by communities depending on their location and circumstances.
“The needs of a coastal barangay may differ from those of an upland community. The concerns of one municipality may not be the same as those of another,” he said.
Lacson said local information officers are in a strategic position because they understand their communities, local dynamics, and the communication channels most effective in reaching residents.
However, the governor stressed that information officers cannot work alone.
“Effective disaster communication requires close coordination among disaster risk reduction and management offices, health personnel, social welfare teams, police and fire services, first responders, local chief executives, barangay officials and other partners,” he said.
The governor emphasized that such coordination must be established before a disaster occurs. | GPB
