CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -The Office of Civil Defense (OCD)IV-A on Friday announced the agency’s fight against giving false or wrong information that will cause panic to the public.
Regional Director Carlos Eduardo E. Alvarez III, said during a get-together with media practitioners held at Shakey’s House at Turbina Village in this city, that the OCD IV-A is going to work with the media practitioners to fight misinformation.
“We are willing to work together with you in fighting misinformation that affects the general public,” he stressed claiming that wrong information is akin to a “weapon of mass disinformation”.
He narrated a recent incident when Taal Volcano emitted smog yet it was posted on social media that the volcano was on the verge of eruption which was not true. And it was not helping people, making their job harder.
“Our job is no joke. We handle disasters. We want to bring to the public what is really happening,” he pointed out adding that Taal Volcano is under their constant watch as it is in their area of responsibility among other disasters.
Holding the position for just two months, yet the Regional Director is bent on bringing technology to the region as far as reaching school children with applications that promote disaster readiness in a game form.
Meanwhile, Derrick Marquez, chief, the Risk Reduction Management Office, assured the media practitioners “the right information as fast as possible” and a good team player with the media as well as other government agencies.
