Innovators Showcase Disaster Preparedness Innovations at Pasundayag Northern Luzon Fair, Baguio City

Ten innovations by groups from different parts of Northern Luzon were on showcase at the Pasundayag Northern Luzon Innovation Fair on Feb. 20 at Eurotel Hotel, Baguio City. Organized by the TUKLAS Innovation Labs, this fair is the third event of a series which aims to promote 40 innovative solutions that help prepare communities for disaster.

Most of the innovations demonstrate the different uses of technology and knowledge in looking for better ways to alleviate the impact of disasters in local communities. Both modern and traditional technologies found their way in most if not all of the projects.

Through a panel discussion with select innovators and community representatives, the fair highlighted another important component of these innovations: community participation and involvement. According to Angelo Melencio, Consortium Manager from Plan International Philippines, all of the innovations consider their communities as “co-designers” and “co-implementers,” because this is the best way to empower communities to become resilient in the face of disasters.

Each innovation also presented its solutions through their exhibit booths. During the day, groups also had a chance to give their pitches to the attendees. Most of the pitches focused on what kind of support their innovations still needed to take their innovations to scale.

New Technologies and Traditional Knowledge Come Together

Most of the innovations combined the value of community and indigenous knowledge with modern technologies in order to prepare local community members when they are faced with disasters. Here is a rundown of some of these innovations:

• Alay Bayan-Luson, Inc. – Community-led Disaster Readiness and Relief (DRR) mentoring and skills transfer between two barangays of Alibangsay and Cardiz in Ilocos Sur
• Katinnulong Daguiti Umili iti Amianan, Inc. (KADUAMI) – Designing a Shelter model that is disaster-resilient (typhoon and earthquake)
• Batil-ang Peypeyan Clan (BPC) – Learning from indigenous practices and technical knowledge on pine forest management for disaster mitigation
• Ifugao Peasant Movement – Revitalization of camote farming for more disaster resilient communities
• Ilocos Center for Research, Empowerment and Development – Quik Data, a Community-based disaster reporting app

Of note among the innovations are those led by young innovators such as the following:

• Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera – Cultural workshops for youth and children in disaster-affected mining areas
• Plot and Play Ventures – Developing a board game, Foresight, to educate youth about disaster preparedness
• Daig Daluyong – Building models for coastal protection against storm surges and tsunamis
• 3Build – KUBO: Building the disaster relief house that is modular, eco-friendly, affordable and easy to ship and assemble
• Tulong Kabataan Volunteers’ Network – Ilocos – Developing a text-based Role Playing Game called DRR Game app to educate youth towards active participation in community disaster-preparedness

TUKLAS is implemented by a consortium of four non-government organizations: Plan International, Action Against Hunger, CARE International, and the Citizen’s Disaster Response Center. It is part of the Disasters & Emergencies Preparedness Programme (DEPP) Innovation Labs, a global network of labs funded with UK aid and collaboratively managed by the Start Network and the Communications with Disaster Affected Communities (CDAC) Network.