Cebu to host international ICT confab

CEBU, Philippines — An international conference on information and communication technologies for disaster preparedness and response operations is set in Cebu next week.

The first Information and Communications Technology-Disaster Response Conference (ICT-DRC) will be held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on September 20 and 21.

The two-day conference aims to raise awareness on how to reduce the effects of disasters through ICT solutions.

“ICT Solutions can save lives during disasters,” said Jeffrey Llanto, executive director of the Central Visayas Information Sharing Network (CVISNET) Foundation Inc., during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza last Tuesday.

The event is being organized by the CVISNET Foundation, Inc. and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation of Japan, in cooperation with the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Economic Development Authority, Office of Civil Defense, Philippine Information Agency, the Province of Cebu, and Japanese institutions Tohoku University, Japan and the University of Aizu, Japan.

Among the highlights of the conference are the workshop and the technical presentations and demonstrations from resource speakers from Japan, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, USA, and the local prime movers from the Philippines.

DOST Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Undersecretary, Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., will tackle about the importance of the Philippine Hazard Program (Disaster Prevention and Mitigation).

Professor Nei kato, Director of Research Organization of Electrical Committee (ROEC) of Tohoku, Japan will share the Advanced Ad Hoc and Mesh Networks Technologies to Facilitate Specialized Disaster-resilient Networks.

Other speakers will talk about available ICT solutions, applications and programs, best practices in disaster resilience and future mitigation trends.

The expected spectators are from the local government units, national agencies, local authorities, state and private universities, non-government organizations and the private sector, which will be comprised of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) officers, emergency responders and representatives from corporations, property developers and the academe. (FREEMAN)