For disasters, emergencies: Danao City gets info system from telco

CEBU, Philippines - Smart Communications yesterday turned over to Danao City an information tool aimed at preparing the public in times of disasters and emergencies.

The city government received the Infoboard system as  Smart Communications VisMin public affairs senior manager Maria Jane Paredes,  highlighted the “great importance” of communication to local government units being the first responders during disasters.

The city has assigned the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office to handle the tool officially named DAPSEMO.

Smart’s Nancy Nacua explained to the 39 barangay captains, who attended yesterday’s event at Intusan Resort, that LDRRMO, thorough its head Jay Raymund Meca, gives information and important news to the barangay captains, who will then immediately relay these to their constituents.

Information on an upcoming typhoon or possible landslide, for example, will be among those LDRRMO will be watching out to prepare the public for evacuation to safer areas.

Nacua said the tool will provide disaster preparedness, weather forecast, and even tips on fire and calamities to the public. This web-based tool uses mobile phone with Smart sim card, but Nacua said they are working out on integrating Sun, a sister company, being the common network used in Danao.

Smart also provided free sim cards to the 39 barangay captains. The company assured 10,000 free text messages to Danao for its Infoboard every month all throughout the partnership.

Thomas Mark Durano, Liga ng mga Barangay president, in his brief speech, thanked Smart for the assistance, saying it will save the lives of their people if used properly. He, likewise, appealed to the barangay captains to maximize the use of the tools especially in preparing for disasters.

For his part, Vice Mayor Ramon Durano VI said the project is “very timely” as the city is in the process of “institutionalizing” its LDRRMO. He said their goal is to minimize response time during emergencies and disasters by involving the barangay level and as many people in the program.

Paredes said the Infoboard project was started following the killer mudslide in Guinsaugon, Southern Leyte in 2006. She said it was also utilized before and after super typhoon Yolanda that battered Eastern Visayas and Cebu in 2013. Cebu Province and Cebu City have the tools already, which they also use for severe traffic advisories, big events like Sinulog and others.

Paredes, however, admitted that when Smart goes down during disasters, the system may become useless, hence she advised LGUs to still keep their radios and satellite phones in hand just in case.

She further said, though, that after typhoon Yolanda, Smart has “beefed up” its network of lines and fiber optics to withstand strong winds. — Liv G. Campo/NSA (FREEMAN)