Photo by Clark Ancero/Lapu-Lapu City Rescue
A new educational online game designed to help young learners better understand disaster preparedness and resilience was launched as part of Andam Lapu-Lapu sa Habagatan Year 2.
The Opon Andam Resilience Game is a DOST-funded project implemented by the University of the Philippines Cebu (UP Cebu) with Asst. Prof. Percival J. Forcadilla of the Department of Computer Science as Project Leader in collaboration with the Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) and Department of Education Lapu-Lapu City Division. The project responds to the need for innovative approaches to disaster education, particularly among young people. It developed a game that introduces disaster preparedness and resilience concepts while incorporating local disaster scenarios and best practices relevant to Lapu-Lapu City.
The launch forms part of the continuing Andam Lapu-Lapu initiative, which brings disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation efforts to the community level. The program builds on previous iterations, including Andam Lapu-Lapu sa Olango and Andam Lapu-Lapu sa Amihanan, and reflects a continuing commitment to strengthening local resilience through science, technology, research, and community participation. It is also the first-ever local adaptation of the Department of Science and Technology’s HANDA Pilipinas campaign, which promotes science- and technology-based approaches to disaster preparedness and resilience.
Andam Lapu-Lapu sa Habagatan Year 2 was held at Lo-ok National High School from September 14-15, 2026. It marked the first time that the Andam Lapu-Lapu initiative was hosted in a school. This year’s activity also marked the first time that participants from private schools across Lapu-Lapu City joined the two-day activity. The launch of Opon Andam reflects the continuing commitment of ANDAM Lapu-Lapu to make disaster risk reduction education more accessible and engaging.
An active collaborator in the initiative since its inception in 2024, the University of the Philippines Cebu Center for Environmental Informatics (UP Cebu CENVI) contributed technical and knowledge expertise to the two-day activity. UP Cebu CENVI supports science-based and data-driven approaches to disaster risk management by connecting environmental informatics, research, and technology with local preparedness efforts.
The two-day lecture-workshop series featured five breakout skills training sessions. Mr. James Carlo Garcia of UP Cebu CENVI served as resource speaker for Coastal and Storm Surge Preparedness, where he taught participants how to read maps and introduced technology-based tools such as NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) and GeoRisk Philippines. Ms. Annie Fe Perez-Gallardo of the College of Communication, Art and Design served as resource speaker for Digital Crisis Communication, highlighting the importance of effective communication and information dissemination during emergencies and disasters. Other topics include Community Profiling and Community-Based Early Warning Systems, Family and Household Preparedness Workshop and Sawra ang Ulan (Rainwater Catchments System).
Andam Lapu-Lapu sa Habagatan Year 2 was carried out through the collaboration of the Lapu-Lapu City Government through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department, DOST VII, UP Cebu CENVI, the Lapu-Lapu City DepEd Division (DRRE Unit), Pagtambayayong Foundation, Inc. and other partners.
For UP Cebu CENVI, the successful conduct of another Andam Lapu-Lapu initiative advances its goal of empowering communities through environmental informatics.