NEWS | Padayon UP launches Project Panaghiusa to support efforts in disaster readiness and response
In light of the recent disasters affecting the country, the Padayon UP Public Service Office has launched the Project Panaghiusa to raise awareness and support efforts on disaster readiness and response.
DILIMAN, Quezon City—It was meant to be just another ordinary night for the residents of the quiet town of Bogo, nestled in the north-eastern part of Cebu province. However, everything changed when the clock ticked down to a minute before 10:00, and the ground started shaking violently. In the moments that followed, a series of aftershocks rattled the area, causing houses and buildings to crumble and power lines to snap. Panic engulfed the residents as they rushed from their homes, seeking safety in the streets and refuge in the cover of darkness. As morning broke, the roadside was lined with body bags, a grim reminder of the tragedy that had unfolded. Heart-wrenching images of grieving families flooded social media, amplifying the trauma and loss experienced across the province. The devastating toll climbed to 69 lives lost throughout the province, with Bogo bearing the brunt of loss and destruction as the epicenter of the 6.9 magnitude quake.
The tragedy did not end with the destruction in Cebu province; a spate of earthquakes struck various regions across the Philippines, extending from La Union to Davao Oriental. The recent events have raised important questions about the country’s readiness to cope with multiple disasters occurring simultaneously. How prepared are we to face such unprecedented situations? And how can we support the needs of the survivors?
In light of the recent disasters affecting the country, the Padayon UP Public Service Office has launched the Project Panaghiusa to raise awareness and support efforts on disaster readiness and response. The project aims to enhance public awareness of disaster preparedness and response, while fostering collective action to support communities affected by these crises.
For the first component, the Padayon Office partnered with the UP Resilience Institute and the UP Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health for a webinar entitled Project Panaghiusa: Strength in Readiness, Solidarity in Response, on 22 October 2025 via Zoom and livestreamed on Facebook.
Dr. Carlos Primero D. Gundran, an Emergency Physician at the Philippine General Hospital and a Director at the UP Resilience Institute, served as the resource person and spoke about the concepts and their practical applications in disaster risk reduction and management. During the discussion, Dr. Gundran also shared the activities of UP Resilience Institute in Bogo and in other disaster-affected areas in the Cebu province and parts of Mindanao, which include the development of early warning systems, focus group discussions, Matatag-Check Rapid Assessment for select UP Mindanao and UP Cebu facilities, and sites assessments of Bogo City and the towns of San Remigio, Medellin, and Daanbantayan in Northern Cebu.
“Sa tingin ko mahalaga yung naging webinar una dahil napapanahon ang usapin na ito, lalo na’t halos araw-araw nating nababalitaan na nagkaroon ng lindol o aftershock sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Pilipinas. At sa tingin ko nakatulong din ang isinagawang webinar to spread awareness and promote preparedness, hindi lang actually sa lindol kundi pati sa iba pang sakuna,” says Senior Project Assistant and Project Panaghiusa Lead Julie Ann Dela Paz, contemplating on the significance of the webinar and its impact on the participants. “Maganda rin na yung naging discussion ni Dr. Gundran, especially noong Q&A, ay very practical at applicable sa iba’t ibang konteksto gaya na lamang sa pamilya, komunidad, eskwelahan, at iba pa.”
The webinar drew an audience of 159 participants from various sectors, including the academe, national government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector. They participated through Zoom or watched the livestream on Facebook. The webinar also served as an opportunity to launch the second component of the project: a resource generation campaign for disaster-affected communities. This campaign is being conducted in partnership with the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód System and Ugnayan ng Pahinungód Cebu.
Cover design: Chu Quinto