PHILIPPINES: TOL urges Phivolcs: Simplify earthquake terminologies for ordinary Filipinos

PHILIPPINES, January 3 - Press Release
January 2, 2025

TOL urges Phivolcs: Simplify earthquake terminologies for ordinary Filipinos
Effective communication during disasters can save lives

Consistent with his call to make weather advisories easier to understand for ordinary Filipinos, Senator Francis TOL Tolentino is also urging the same for earthquake terms and warnings, stressing that effective communication during disasters can save lives.

Tolentino relayed his appeal to Dr. Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) during the senator's regular radio program "Usapang TOL" this morning, January 2.

"There are many local words that can be used to make it easier for the common Filipino to

understand earthquakes. This will also help our kababayans plan, prepare, and respond better. Effective communication during disasters can save lives," the senator said.

TOL added that the agency can use the vernacular to define and differentiate between magnitude and intensity, and other technical terms. He cited Filipino words such as "pag-uga, pagyanig, paggalaw," and "paglindol" as possible examples.

In response, Bacolcol agreed with Tolentino and shared that Phivolcs has a program called "Danas," which aims to laymanize scientific terms and warnings.

The senator stressed that effective communication is crucial since the Philippines is prone to all kinds of natural disasters due to its geographical location. He also noted recent seismic activities that have been linked to the Manila Trench.

Bacolcol confirmed that Phivolcs has monitored more than 200 earthquake sequences linked to the Manila Trench since December 17, including a magnitude 5.0 earthquake that occured in the Ilocos region last December 19. Bacolcol added that the Manila Trench, just like the West Valley Fault, is capable of generating a magnitude 8.4 earthquake.

"In the same way that I have been calling on Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) to simplify its weather advisories, I have the same appeal for Phivolcs," Tolentino stressed. Both agencies are under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

A former Chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Mayor of Tagaytay City, Senator Tolentino has extensive experience in disaster response, mitigation, and management.