NDRRMC to launch mobile info system on disaster awareness, mitigation by Mar S. Arguelles LEGAZPI CITY -– Aiming at a “zero” casualty goal, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) will launch next month the National Cell Broadcast System (NCBS), an information system through mobile phone that will update the public about looming disaster events that might happen, a ranking official of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Monday. Edward Del Rosario, Defense Undersecretary and OCD administrator, said the NCBS will be tapping the support and facilities of telecommunication companies like Smart, Globe and Sun in disseminating emergency broadcast warnings or infoboards through mobile phones in times of weather disturbance, flooding, landslide, earthquake and other disaster event. Del Rosario said in a press conference here that the NCBS was conceptualized as part of the OCD’s Disaster Information Nationwide Awareness (DINA) Project. He said the NDRRMC and the agency have firmed up negotiations and will enter into an agreement with the three big telcos in August, after which the NCBS will start to operate nationwide for the millions of cell phone subscribers of Smart, Globe and Sun. Aside from the regular disaster advisories, the NCBS will broadcast up-to-date weather, flooding, earthquake and landslide bulletins, and information tips on what to do before, during and after disaster events, Del Rosario said. He was guest the at a two-day Regional Summit on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management for local chief executives, planners and disaster action officers in Bicol held here from Monday until Tuesday. The OCD administrator said the NDRRMC has enhanced the council’s enforcement strategy by requiring all local disaster councils across the country to submit by the end of July their comprehensive DRRM plans for consolidation and appropriate funding scheme. Del Rosario said the event here is the second regional summit to take place, the first being in Iloilo City. He stressed that the summit aims to enhance partnership between the national and local government units in strengthening DRRM operations. He noted that so far, only 60 percent or 976 of the 1,627 town and cities in the country have submitted their respective DRRM plan. Del Rosario hailed Albay Gov. Joey Salceda for a fully operational DRRM where it pioneered and sustained the “zero” casualty goal during disaster events. Along this line, Salceda who is also the Bicol Regional Development Council chair, said that of the 120 town and cities in the region, 95 have their DRRM and all towns and cities have their DRRM action officers. In Albay, 15 of the 18 town and cities have prepared their Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), however, these CLUPs are still on hold as it will go through a process of consultations and public hearings before it can be implemented.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 21:24:21 +0000