DepEd partners with telco for disaster-resilient education

CEBU, Philippines - Leading wireless provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is working with the Department of Education to ensure continuity of education even during emergency situations.

The DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) will be working closely with Smart for a series of initiatives that aim to reduce the disruptive impact of disasters on education.

"We have sought Smart to help strengthen the capabilities of the DRRMO and ensure continuity of education especially during emergency situations and disasters.  The severity and frequency of disasters have taken a toll on learning.  We've had no recourse but to suspend classes to ensure the safety of our students," said DepEd Undersecretary Mario Deriquito.

"We have embraced disaster preparedness as a way of life.  We have been promoting the culture of preparedness in communities down to the households and the individuals to help reduce loss of lives and properties during disasters. This partnership with the DepEd is very important because it plays a key role in educating our youth and as much as possible, we want to help mitigate the impact of disasters on education," said Ramon R. Isberto, head of Smart Public Affairs.

Under the partnership, Smart will collaborate with the DepEd DRRMO in beefing up the agency's capability to deal with disasters.  Smart will support the agency in organizing trainings on as well as developing and producing Information, Education and Communications (IEC) materials on disaster reduction and climate change adaptation.

At the same time, Smart will provide information and communications technology (ICT) support that includes mobile phones, media tablets, pocket Wifi, and load provision during emergencies and disasters.

As part of the communications support, Smart will also set up for DepEd DRRMO the Infoboard service.  The Smart Infoboard is a web-based solution that offers various SMS facilities with different functions and capabilities catering to the needs of a specific community. This has proven to be a very useful information, communications and warning tool for high-risk communities during disasters.

The series of disasters have substantially disrupted education in the country, with classes suspended for months in areas that were severely affected by super typhoon Yolanda.  Emergency situations, like the military standoff in Zamboanga City, also led to schools suspending classes to ensure the safety of its students and teachers. (FREEMAN)