Globe Telecom prepares communities for possible emergencies during rainy season
Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom initiated a community-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program to help communities prepare for possible emergencies during the rainy season such as flooding, landslides, and strong winds.
“We have learned over the years the importance of quick and efficient communication especially when there is a disaster. We have to be fast to respond to emergencies with the goal of saving lives and preventing any further damage to assets. Thus, we have come up with this program to ensure that communities are ready, responsive, and resilient at all times,” said Fernando Esguerra, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility.
Globe identified two local government units in the Bicol region – Malinao, Albay and Mercedes, Camarines Norte for pilot implementation.
Using the Globe SMS Broadcast Facility, municipal mayors will have direct contact with their barangay captains for faster coordination and immediate download of relevant and critical information. The barangay tanods will also undergo capability building on Basic Weather 101 lessons and Basic Emergency Response Training.
At the same time, Globe provided the two municipalities with equipment under its “Sagot Ka ni Kap” program to help them in patrolling their respective areas. Among the tools turned over are cellphones, SIM cards, uniforms for nightly duty, and personal accident insurance via SMS registration. Globe has been implementing SKK since 2008 to improve the abilities of its partner communities to respond to emergencies.
A total of 2,000 SIM cards were distributed to key barangay officials and tanods. The SIM cards are part of the database of which the municipal mayor has direct access to. In addition, mobile phone units were given to 26 barangay captains in Mercedes and 29 in Malinao.
Globe is very active in disaster risk management and is in fact a partner of the Department of Education’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, supplying the government agency with mobile and internet support for monitoring purposes whenever there are calamities.
Disaster preparedness is of utmost importance especially in a country often assaulted by natural disasters. In fact, in 2013 alone, a deadly earthquake hit the Visayas region while 25 tropical cyclones entered the Philippines, with super typhoon Yolanda leaving a trail of severe devastation on its wake.
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