Congressman Martin Romualdez stressed on Wednesday the need for leveraging the latest tools in mapping and information and communication technology to enhance the country’s disaster preparedness during natural calamities such as typhoons, floods and earthquakes.
“Response readiness is key because the Philippines is located in one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world,” said Romualdez, a 2016 senatorial candidate.
The UP-trained lawyer cited a United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and the Pacific report that stated people from the Asia Pacific region are four times more likely to be affected by natural disasters than those living in Africa, and 25 times more likely than those living in Europe or North America.
The UN study added that the region generated a quarter of the world’s GDP but it accounted for a staggering 85 percent of deaths and 38 percent of global economic losses from 1980 to 2009.
“High-tech satellite mapping is of course very useful, but the experience of other countries such as Japan and India during calamities shows that even simple technologies such as smartphone apps, coupled with active community participation, goes a long way,” the solon observed.
“The phone is not just a tool for texting and making calls anymore. In other countries, these devices are being used for community mapping and creating a sturdy geospatial database.”
“Our Department of Science and Technology [DOST], for instance, can encourage IT students in our high schools and universities, through a nationwide competition, to develop an app that could be useful during calamities,” offered Romualdez.
“Gaming and social networking features can even be integrated to make the system attractive to everyone. The point is, we need to start thinking out of the box. Investing in technological solutions doesn’t necessarily entail high expense allocation from the government,” Romualdez added.
The Leyte congressman recalled the experience of his home province during the November 2013 lashing of Typhoon “Yolanda,’’ one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded worldwide, vowing that “our lack of preparation and disorganized post-disaster assistance should never happen again.”
Yolanda claimed an estimated 6,300 lives and rendered half a million Filipinos homeless, mainly in the Visayas.
According to Romualdez, while no country is immune from disasters, “modern technology can be used to reduce disaster vulnerability. Used strategically and wisely, technology can greatly impact the reduction of the number of casualties.”
“Technology plus organized stakeholder cooperation is an effective and proven formula for disaster preparedness, mitigation and resilience,” he said.