The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has called on the public to use modern technologies to bolster their disaster preparedness efforts.
With the increasing frequency and intensity of natural calamities, Marc Rembrandt Victore, Officer In Charge of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division of OCD MIMAROPA, emphasizes that utilizing available technologies can significantly enhance early warning systems and response measures.
“Technology’s boom is really very helpful, especially for planning purposes. For example, in generating maps, there are tools that have been developed that we can use,” according to Victore citing that these tools are being used by local government units (LGUs) to determine areas prone to different disasters.
He also said that there are applications readily available and can be downloaded on public’s smartphones such as the HazardsHunterPH app, a product of GeoRisk Philippines, a multi-agency initiative led by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or PHIVOLCS.
“We encourage everyone to use these because they are free. You can check them out. Science and Technology are really very useful, especially in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management planning.”
Victore also encouraged communities to stay informed and make use of government-provided resources, such as mobile alerts and online platforms that offer real-time updates on weather conditions and potential hazards.
Furthermore, Victore pointed out that LGUs should take the lead in promoting the use of modern technologies in their respective areas. By doing so, they can ensure that their constituents are better prepared and more resilient in the face of calamities.
“We are engaging with LGUs to use such apps and tools developed by our science-based agencies so they can benefit from them,” according to Victore.
