Faster disaster warning scheme to be launched

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is working on a more advanced and faster system of disseminating information on impending disasters.

NDRRMC chief Eduardo del Rosario said the new disaster-warning scheme is dubbed Project DINA, or Disaster Information for Nationwide Awareness, which will be launched next month.

“What makes this awareness campaign different is its video component that features information about calamities and their effects that could be downloaded from the Internet,” Del Rosario said at Bicol’s regional summit on disaster and risk reduction management for local chief executives on Monday.

Del Rosario said another disaster information dissemination scheme, dubbed as the National Cell Broadcasting System, which would tap the services of all telephone companies operating in the country, would also be launched.

“It is similar to text blasting, but more advanced and faster because it will not pass through the usual process of sending SMS,” he said.

Del Rosario told The STAR they are preparing the requirements and the needed templates to implement these new disaster management schemes.

He said the programs would bring to the frontline all the disaster managers and emergency responders across the country.