Class Suspension Posts as Risk Communication during Typhoons in the Philippines

Abstract

Disasters brought by typhoons disrupt daily routines, such as going to school. In the Philippines, local governments tend to suspend classes as a precautionary measure. The social media hashtag “#WalangPasok, ” a Filipino term translated as “no classes” or “no work, ” is used to communicate the class suspension during typhoons and other similar calamities. This study explores how local government units in the Philippines utilize class suspension posts on social media as part of their risk communication during typhoons, with particular attention to the risk communication messages, multimedia attributes and framing strategies. Using qualitative content analysis, the study analyzed class suspension posts across multiple local government social media pages. Guided by Framing Theory, the text-based captions and visual graphics were analyzed to identify the frames used to communicate risk communication messages. Results revealed that social media posts embed three main risk communication messages into their class suspension posts, namely: weather and typhoon information; safety and precautionary measures; and rationalization of class suspension. This information is presented using either the politician frame, policy frame, or precautionary frame. Given the high engagement with these posts, local governments have a strong opportunity to leverage the platform to advocate for proactive responses during disasters.