The University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) joined healthcare workers, emergency responders, and other frontliners during the opening day of the PCGH-DEMAC 9th Postgraduate Course on September 23, 2026, at the Taguig Convention Center.
The postgraduate course brought together professionals from different fields to share knowledge and experiences on disaster preparedness, emergency response, and the challenges faced by healthcare facilities during disasters.
As part of the Day 1 program, Dr. Gundran of UPRI delivered a lecture on the impacts of earthquakes on healthcare facilities. His discussion looked into the causes of structural damage during earthquakes, as well as the different factors that can affect the safety and continued operation of hospitals.
Dr. Gundran also discussed functional collapse, emphasizing that a hospital does not necessarily have to physically collapse to stop functioning. Damage to utilities, equipment, access routes, communication systems, and other essential services can also prevent a hospital from delivering the care that patients need during an emergency.
The discussion highlighted an important point in disaster preparedness: keeping a hospital standing is only part of the challenge. Healthcare facilities must also be prepared to continue operating when disasters disrupt their normal systems and services.
The first day of the course provided an opportunity for participants to learn from experts and practitioners in disaster management and emergency response. Through activities such as this, UPRI continues to share its knowledge and contribute to efforts toward safer, more prepared, and more resilient communities and healthcare systems.