MANILA – That the Philippines is one of the countries most prone to natural disasters and the adverse impact of climate change is no understatement. And each time a calamity strikes, the need for efficient and resilient telecommunications becomes more pronounced.
Fast, timely, effective, and efficient communication is vital to emergency preparedness and response. And no one understands this more than President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who wants to make sure that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has the system and wherewithal to deal with this concern.
“We need to be prepared and resilient during times of disaster,” said Edgar Navarro, supervising director of the DICT’s Government Emergency Communications System (GECS).
GECS was established in accordance with National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) Memorandum Circular No. 01, s. 2019 , which made the DICT the lead agency for the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC). This mandate charges the department with strengthening ICT capacities at both national and local levels to improve disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
This initiative aims to employ information and communications technology in disseminating critical information during disasters, and optimize how the government uses ICT in disaster risk reduction and management.
Comprehensive emergency-response framework
The GECS project comprises four essential components: the GECS Mobile Operations Vehicle for Emergency (GECS-MOVE), Interoperable Radio Network, Disaster Response Management Information System (DRMIS), and Capacity Building and Institutional Development. Among these, the GECS-MOVE has emerged as the project’s flagship component and has demonstrated immediate and tangible results in several emergency-response situations.
The GECS-MOVE system consists of three primary vehicles: the Hub, a mobile Dispatch unit, and a motorcycle, each serving specific functions in disaster-response operations.
The Hub, housed in a custom-made heavy-duty truck, functions as a mobile command center equipped with satellite communication and radio systems, and a power generator with a 200-liter diesel-storage capacity.
The Dispatch unit, a 4×4 pick-up truck, extends the Hub’s reach with its self-reliant connectivity capabilities.
The accompanying dual-sport motorcycle enables responders to navigate challenging terrains while maintaining communication links.
In addition to the three primary vehicles, the GECS-MOVE system is also equipped with either two all-weather heavy-duty drones or an unmanned aerial vehicle, capable of aerial surveillance, search-and-rescue operations, and delivery of goods.
Technological integration and deployment
“Having these communications equipment and vehicle could have a great impact to enable responders in providing support to the community,” Navarro said at a DICT communications exercise (COMMEX) in Iloilo last year.
The GECS-MOVE units employ a sophisticated combination of Very High Frequency (VHF) and High Frequency (HF) radios, complemented by Starlink connectivity. This multi-layered approach ensures reliable communication even in areas where traditional infrastructure has been compromised.
MOVE units can also employ emergency text-messaging systems independently of cellular networks. This allows teams to send information such as evacuation area locations, warnings, and public-service announcements via text, even if cell sites are down.
The DICT has placed GECS-MOVE units on standby at diverse locations across the country, including Batangas, Tacloban, Butuan, Mabalacat, Davao, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Tuguegarao, Ilocos and the National Capital Region. This widespread deployment ensures that rapid-response teams can quickly access disaster-stricken areas across the archipelago.
Provincial DRRM Office (PDRRMO) chief Broderick Train of Antique affirms the system’s practical value in coordinating disaster response: “This will be very helpful to us because, as we all know, electricity and mobile services tend to be cut off when there is a calamity. Through GECS-MOVE, our coordination and response will be guaranteed in remote areas.”
Personnel preparedness
Even the most advanced technological approaches to DRRM must be complemented by appropriate training, and the DICT is certainly aware of this.
The COMMEX in Iloilo was part of a series of trainings conducted by the DICT, which instructed local-government personnel in effective disaster management. Participants included responders and disaster-risk-reduction officers.
“This exercise will show how they will respond during emergencies. The series of trainings is ongoing,” Navarro said of the COMMEX.
In addition, the DICT also leads targeted training sessions at LGUs with extensive participation across multiple agencies. These tackle topics such as setting up emergency communication networks and radio communication protocols, and include hands-on exercises and simulated scenarios. These training sessions not only improve how LGUs respond to disasters, but also encourage collaboration among government agencies.
Integration with National Development Goals
“The DICT’s initiatives are about more than technology; they are about inclusion, resilience, and the promise of a future where no one is left behind in our digital journey,” said Renato Paraiso, DICT Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs in a Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas (KBP) media forum after Typhoon Pepito.
The GECS joins a broad roster of connectivity initiatives by the DICT, including the National Broadband Plan (NBP). In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Secretary Ivan John Uy described the NBP as “the national highway for telecommunications,” emphasizing its role in creating a robust digital infrastructure backbone for the country.
A key focus of these initiatives is reaching Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). “These are remote areas that previously had no connection at all. No cell signal, no Wi-Fi, and people there could not communicate,” Sec. Uy explained.
