Department of Education (DepEd) taps Smart to power disaster response center

Leading wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is providing Internet connectivity to the Department of Education to help it coordinate its disaster response efforts more efficiently. On the wake of the severe flooding brought on by the monsoon rains, DepEd tapped Smart to provide reliable wireless broadband connection for its operations center for disaster response here in Metro Manila.

The DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) assisted the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the height of the calamity by augmenting the relief goods that are being brought to families seeking refuge in the various evacuation centers. Schools are most often used as evacuation centers during disasters and calamities.

DepEd would be sourcing the additional relief goods from its regional offices. Students from areas that were unaffected by the floods have also been donating canned goods and other items to tide out those who were displaced by the floods and some of these donations were coursed through their schools as well.

“We are always open to collaborating with DepEd, particularly in areas of disaster risk response and management. In those crucial times, a seamless coordination of efforts are needed to ensure that help gets to those who needed it at the soonest possible time,” said Ramon Isberto, head of Smart Public Affairs.

“The DepEd central office primarily coordinates logistics for our schools used as evacuation centers. The data received by the central office will be used by other government agencies in providing joint relief to thousands of families needing immediate assistance,” said Felix Villanueva, OIC, Physical Facilities and Logistics Office of the DepEd-DRRMO.

“The Smart Bro really helped us send this data to the various agencies/offices nationwide. It enabled us to respond immediately and efficiently,” added Villanueva.