Better safe than sorry before disaster strikes

MANILA, Philippines - Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad has welcomed the newest development on disaster preparedness of the city as they recently received a new communications “tool” — a customized mobile phone from Olive Telecom to help in their effort toward disaster risk reduction.

“We are thankful to Olive Telecom for giving these mobile phones to us, to help us in times of calamities,” Natividad said during the recent turnover ceremony which was attended by his 51 barangay chairmen, other barangay officials and the city’s rescue team.

Olive Telecom, a world-class designer and manufacturer of wireless devices like 2G/3G mobile handsets and smartphones, connected mobile computing devices and advanced data modems, has donated customized mobile phones called “Olive-Malolos phones” to Malolos City to help the local government become better prepared in times of disasters and natural calamities like typhoons, floods and even earthquakes.

Natividad said the Olive-Malolos phones, specifically designed for the city, will translate into an effective response to their emerging concerns on environmental and disaster awareness and preparedness, especially now that the rainy season has officially started and that a new weather disturbance is looming.

Although the city was not really battered by the onslaught of typhoon “Ondoy” in 2009, operational concerns at the local level has always been their concern, Natividad said, adding that to “prepare the city on emergencies and natural disasters that may likely recur in the future is still the best thing to do.”

“This (donation of Olive-Malolos phones) offers a more proactive approach recognizing that the impact of disasters can be avoided or reduced by addressing the root cause of disaster risks, particularly in the face of intensified global climate change. Thus, I would like to extend my gratitude to Olive Telecom,” the young mayor added.

The donation of the Olive-Malolos phones was made possible through the help of the company’s country manager, Janis Nathalie Racpan, who hails from Malolos.

Even while his barangay officials have undergone so many disaster awareness and preparedness training in the past, Natividad said, “It is still different to have this kind of tool (Olive phone) to keep us all connected.”

One of the features of the Olive-Malolos phone is that it has a built-in directory of each of the barangays, all of the emergency hotlines in Malolos, including the number of the mayor, making it easy to call for help or assistance when emergency arises.

Apart from disaster preparedness, the mobile phone can also be used for reporting crimes or any untoward incidents in the barangays.

“We need to be very much prepared especially now that rainy season has officially started,” Natividad said.

For her part, Racpan said she chose Malolos since she wanted “to give back” to the city whatever success she has achieved today.

She added that the donation of the Olive-Malolos phones is also part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts in “paying it forward” to the communities where it operates.