ILOILO – The town of Calinog launched its Community Disaster Monitoring System (CCDMS), the very first in this province.
Mayor Francisco Calvo said the CCDMS was created for an efficient and secure channeling of information, event detection, decision and support, and message broker subsystems.
Under the system, all information from the constituents of the municipality is consolidated (residence, streets, roads, water systems, hazards/risks, and vulnerabilities among others).
These data are important in strengthening the four pillars of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) – preparedness, prevention, response, and rehabilitation, Calvo said.
All of Calinog’s 59 barangays, with their respective DRRM plans, are also equipped with handheld radios.
The system is complimented with a centralized emergency communication facility with state- of- the-art communications equipment that can dispatch personnel and resources in case of emergency.
Calvo said the local government unit has allotted P1.8 million for the realization of the CDDMS.
“Ma-purchase kita sang mga kinahanglanon para sa tawo. I-improve naton ang aton pag-rescue, ang tawo naton mabuligan gid naton,” said Calvo.
As indicated in the system, out of 14,224 households in Calinog, 23.91 percent or 3,383 households (composed of 14 872 individuals affected) have high susceptibility to flood while 2.88 percent or 432 households (1,793 individuals) have moderate susceptibility.
Meanwhile, 14.62 percent or 2,036 households (9,092 individuals affected) are highly susceptible to landslides while 9.75 percent or 1,388 households (6,063 individuals) have moderate susceptibility.
Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Jerry Bionat lauded the local government unit of Calinog for being the first town in Iloilo to have this project.
“Kamo lang sa bilog nga probinsya sang Iloilo ang may kasubong sini nga na-establisar nga communication… Kabay pa nga mapailog man naton ini sa iban nga kabanwahanan,” said Bionat.
Meanwhile, Calinog Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Rodolfo Valencia assured confidentiality of all information gathered under the system.
He also noted that residents of the town are “very receptive” of the project.
“Gusto gid nila kay ginpakita namon kag ginpa-intindi kananda ang sistema,” said Valencia, citing the town’s experience during 2013’s super typhoon “Yolanda” wherein communication was limited.
Office of Civil Defense Region 6 Operation Section chief Engsineer Joseph Paul Nogra said the system could assure that necessary preparations are in place for any eventualities.
“We cannot afford to ignore other hazard that threatens this municipality. The launching of CCDMS would give the town advantage… a safer community especially now that there’s climate change,” he said.
The town is also eyeing to install closed-circuit television cameras with public address system in all its barangays./PN
