CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Department of Information and Communication Technology Region 7 (DICT-7) has prepositioned its communication assets in strategic areas in the region as part of its disaster preparedness measures.
According to DICT-7 Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) focal, Engr. Ira Bermudo, they have installed Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT) in 20 strategic locations across Central Visayas.
DICT serves as the chair of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC).
Bermudo said a VSAT was also installed at the Office of the Civil Defense in Cebu, which serves as the emergency operations center of RDRRMC-7.
DICT has also prepositioned communication assets at the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure their connectivity during disasters and emergencies.
“Communication is aid, so without communication, we cannot assess what’s going to be distributed to affected areas. How can we provide response or aid if we cannot actually get the essential elements of information from the ground?” Bermudo said.
DICT-7 also provides capacity training to the local government units (LGUs).
“We are capacitating local government units by doing training to provide them how to respond in case there is a failure of communication,” Bermudo said.
DICT also has the Mobile Operation Vehicle for Emergencies (MOVE) Set that can be deployed to support the response and recovery efforts in disaster-hit areas in the region. (JJT/PIA 7 Cebu)
