Smart Communications provided emergency communications support for yesterday’s tsunami and quake drills held in Davao City and Metro Manila.
The drills which simulated a magnitude 7.2 earthquake started at 9 a.m. in Davao and 4 p.m. in Metro Manila.
Davao City officials along with the MMDA signalled the start of the drill using Smart’s Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS), which sent alert messages to residents within the area to inform them of the activity. Smart is also the only telco to date, which has complied with R.A. 10639, also known as the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act.
The telco also deployed Smart Satellite solutions along with LTE connectivity to ensure seamless and uninterrupted communications between response units. These are in conjunction with free calls and charging services for use by the participants.
Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio led the drill along with Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer and Central 911 chief Emmanuel Jaldon, and key participating units. In Metro Manila, the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) took command along with guidance by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and other agencies and stakeholders.
“I encourage all Dabawenyos to participate in the 1st Davao City earthquake and tsunami drill on Friday, July 14, because this will help us prepare ourselves in the event a tsunami or an earthquake hits Davao City.”
“It is our responsibility to ensure that everyone in our communities and our homes are aware and knowledgeable of the things that should be done in cases of emergencies. Preparation, which involves learning or acquiring emergency skills, is critical in protecting ourselves, our families, and our communities. Readiness is key to survival.” – Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, Davao City Mayor.
“We understand how important communication is, especially in times of calamities. Our ECBS and satellite solutions, as well as traditional fixed and wireless services, are deployed to affected areas as we recognize communications as a form of relief.” – Ramon R. Isberto, PLDT and Smart public affairs head.
Being a member of the emergency communications cluster under the NDRMMC, Smart has provided communication aid during calamities. This includes free broadcast alerts, free texts, calls, and charging, as well as satellite solutions for LGUs and response teams.
The telco is also a founding signatory of GSMA’s Human Connectivity Charter (HCC), which aims to help operators improve their disaster resilience using mobile technology.
Through its #SafePH advocacy and as part of its commitment to the HCC, Smart’ disaster risk reduction initiatives helped in instilling a culture of preparedness among its partners and the general public. These include emergency mobile solutions like the Batingaw disaster preparedness app, the Agos community aid SMS platform, and on-ground community caravans such as the Tropang Ready educational series for the youth.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
