Smart to Install One Cell Site in Priority LGUs of the SMS Disaster Preparedness Project

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte — The prime movers of the “Strengthening Disaster Preparedness of Southern Leyte thru SMS Technology” project are moving heaven and earth to ensure successful implementation of the project.

Smart Communications, one of the major stakeholders of the project, will soon install one cell site at San Ricardo. It is one of the pilot areas encountering problems with Smart signals, Senior Manager Darwin Flores of the Smart Public Affairs Communications Group said during the press conference at Villa Romana Hotel, Maasin City on June 1.

However, the five (5) high risk barangays in San Ricardo involved in the SMS project were able to tap signals coming from the neighboring island of Surigao, it was learned.

Smart also noted that other hinterland barangays included in the project, particularly in Barangay San Rafael, Maasin City also encountered problems with signals mainly due to the mountain terrains that constrained to catch signals even it they will set up a cell site in the area. Several options has been considered by Smart such as installing cell site in the neighboring barangays, among others.

Only ten months barely passed from the implementation of the two-year project, but the three components of the project are already in place. However, it needs to fine tune the P10M –World Bank funded project harnessing the power of text messaging in the disaster preparedness, PBSP Business Development Manager Lelilani McDonough disclosed.

The three components includes the installation of the SMS infoboard system, contingency planning to each of the 50 priority barangays in the project and the multiplication of educators of the project who can give the proper education to people especially on disaster preparedness which are distinct from each municipalities, PBSP Project Manager Jason Calva said.

The SMS Disaster Preparedness project, a joint undertaking of the World Bank, Smart and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), is the first of its kind in that it harnesses the state of the art communications such as cellphones and social networking in the country.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the project “Strengthening Disaster Preparedness of Southern Leyte thru SMS Technology,” in the amount of P 10 Million in coordination with Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Smart Communications, was signed with Gov. Damian Mercado in September, 2010 and is good for two years.

The nine towns included Malitbog, Bontoc, Libagon, Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, Saint Bernard, and Hinunangan and the city of Maasin.

(source: PIA)

============

This is another MAGANDANG IDEYA focusing on Green Living, Sustainability, Waste Management, Natural Health, New Technology and Renewable Energy. For more GOOD IDEAS tune in to TALAKAYAN at KALUSUGAN DWBL 1242 Monday-Friday 4 to 5 pm in partnership with The Big NM – Network Management for Filipinos, The Best Philippine Attractions and Bansang Pilipinas.

Subscribe by Email

Enter your email address:
Delivered by FeedBurner
Mga Kaalaman
Makinig sa Talakayan at Kalusugan LIVE!
Bagyo! Handa Ako!
Any Good Ideas?
prev
- Gabriela
  
  True, there's a wind farm in Ilocos Norte, but the people here are paying very, very high electricity bills especially in Laoag City. And our electric cooperative here, INEC, doesn't want to accept partial payments, and immediately collects a Php50 surcharge if the consumer pays after due date. INEC is very oppressive. The wind farm seems useless because it doesn't give any change in electricity rates. INEC, most people think, is the most oppressive company in Ilocos Norte.
  
  30 November 2011
- Norman C
  
  Please post more topics about renewable energy. I am very interested in this
  
  25 November 2011
- Concerned Citizen from Aklan
  
  Please help protect the natural integrity of Boracay. Don't let the greedy businessmen and capitalists take control of it natural bounty!
  
  25 November 2011
- Manny P
  
  Organic is the way to go. Puro na lang kemikal pinapasok natin sa katawan natin. God has given us plants and herbs where we could get medicines without side effects
  
  25 November 2011
- Sally Sebastian
  
  Great product from Toyota! That would really help our elderly and sick people. I hope they make it affordable
  
  25 November 2011
- Analysis ni Rod Brozas: ANg Bansang Pilipinas Ngayon: Sa Pamumuno ni President Noynoy Aquino
  
  ANg Bansang Pilipinas Ngayon: Sa Pamumuno ni President Noynoy Aquino: ITO DAPAT ang pagtuunan ng Gobyerno natin. Subalit, tuloy-tuloy ang pagcollect ng taxes at pagdagdag ng bagong taxes. Kaya kung ang ibinibigay na dagdag pork barrel ay ibinigay na lang sa direct tang proyekto sa NGOs at Nagtayo na lang ang Governo ng Government Own Factory na pwedeng pagtrabahuan ng mag tao, makakatulong. Ang Mahirap, patuloy ang pag-collect ng mga taxes at dagdag taxes pero patuloy ding naghihirap ang mga tao. Ang hirap na sinasabi ay ay di makayanang dagdag bayad sa Toll, Sa Gasolina, Sa Kuryente, Sa Pagkaing Binibili, Sa Tuition Fee, Sa School Supplies, Sa Damit at sa mga pang-araw-araw na sabings na natitira. Sa kabilang banda, ang makikitaan mong namimili sa mga mamahaling establismento, may mgaelectronics na magaganda at mga damit at tsinilas na mamahalin, ay mga kamag-anak ng mga Politicians at mga Politicians mismo at ibang matatas na opisyalis ng governeno. Yan ang nagiging bahagi ng hati ng status ng bansa, lumalaki ang bilang ng naguguom-o mahirap, at kumokonte ang mga average o mga middle class. Ito ang palatandaan ang ang economy ng isang bansa ay mahina...Tama na. Palitan na. Puro Tsismis at showbiz nalang. Dapat Totoong Kapakanan ng Bansa. Pagsugpo sa Corruption vs Pagkonte na kayang mong bilhin sa halaga ng pera mo = Noynoy Adminstration!
  
  19 November 2011
- Pinoy Henyo
  
  A Letter of Plea to the Government Dear my Philippine government, I have a letter for you. I tried my best to get your attention, asking the help of several people, knocking at the doors of the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)and to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). I failed to get your attention. I am pleading that you give a chance for me to be heard. It is about a tree I discovered and researched on as a source of sustainable biofuel.. I spent more than two years doing research on it and have proven it to be a source of sustainable fuel for cooking, lighting and blend for gasoline engines. Already, one University, the University of Tennessee has confirmed my findings. I wrote a pamphlet on how to grow the tree, extract its oil without using any sophisticated and expensive method and how it can help as carbon sink and lessen the pressure on other trees used as firewood. I have been using the oil for quite sometime now and have demonstrated it to my trainees, some coming from abroad, and to the media (international and local). I have written several articles published in international newspapers and magazines fearful that one day, biopirates will get and own the tree. To prevent this, I have done germplasm collection and seedbanked these. I started training farmers and have organized a planters group. I have planted thousands of the trees and distributed thousands more to farmers. I have a machine fabricated to extract oil at a faster and more efficient way. If only I can be extended help, I can train more, even train technicians to be trainors and plant more. Today, I am afraid I can no longer hold on to this knowledge. Biopirates have smelled blood and they are coming in for a kill. One is very near our shores. Soon, the technology and the knowhow that goes with this tree will leave us and benefit other companies or countries. I hope it will not be to late before you respond. I need your help. Help me care and produce more of these trees and teach our people in the countryside its value so that we Filipinos can be proud to say we have our own sustainable source of energy that is grown from trees, one that does not displace food crops and people but one that can be integrated with our trees and in our forests, from which they come from, in the first place. Help me to let this tree and the technology that goes with it, stay on our shores. Not to be another victim and be added to the long list of biopirated Philippine plants and knowledge. I need your help, not for me...or anything else..but for the thousands of Filipinos out there. Thank you so much. Michael A. Bengwayan, Ph.D Director Cordillera Ecological Center
  
  13 November 2011
- Concerned Mommy
  
  we should not let our children rely heavily on high tech gadgets and toys even if we can afford to give them these stuff. IMHO kids that are pampered with such devices lack the analytical and decision making skills that they would need when they grow up. Yung diskarte ika nga. We should train our children and let them learn how to exist without these high tech gadgetries
  
  3 August 2011
- Rainier Pogi
  
  The tabletop personal computer might be at the end of its days in the United States but I don't think that would be the immediate case here in the Philippines. Just look at the myriad surplus shops selling old units -- and they're still making good business! I just wish the companies in the US or Japan just donate their old PCs that are still in good condition to our schools.
  
  3 August 2011
- Lando
  
  The government should focus more on creating solutions for the garbage problem in towns and cities. Solutions like this one planned in Bataan is good and could probably be the solution we need. But I do hope that the budget allocated for this are spent accordingly and not fall into some crooked politician's pockets.
  
  3 August 2011
next

Your Shout