App to cut disaster response time

CEBU, Philippines - A disaster emergency respond data system which aims to expedite disaster response was introduced yesterday to Cebu stakeholders during the first day of the three-day Rescue Summit.

Dave Castro, director of Pure Force and Rescue Corporation, said the real-time operating system, patterned after the United States’ 911, aims to dispatch personnel and respond to calamities in just a matter of two minutes.

He said it can relay information in real-time without buffering delays.

However, he said Internet connectivity affects the performance of the system.

Castro showed to the participants the actual dispatching of responders during the Manila-wide earthquake drill yesterday.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said the system will contribute to the advancement of their emergency responses.  He added that they are looking at installing the system next month.

“Once installed, we can have a real picture if ever naa’y emergency.  Dako ni nga tabang and motivation on the part of the LGUs. Sa mga local chief executives, maka-act pud sila immediately without depending on the news,” he said.

Pure Force and Rescue Corp., a provider of emergency response and rescue solutions in the country, developed the system together with a mobile personal emergency response app for smartphones which subscribers can tap during emergency situations.

The Pure Force application can be downloaded by the public for a fee of P499 a year. But the software reportedly costs over P20 million to develop depending on the area coverage.

Castro showed how the Pure Force app works. The app is designed with display screen that can show help is on the way. It also has distinct emergency buttons to correspond to any type of emergency.

Subscribers can also send message through the Internet or a text message and call.

Meanwhile, Tribunalo said they are yet to assess the capacity of quick response team or responders when disaster strikes in Cebu.

“We aimed to establish an ICU or the inter-operativity, camaraderie and unity among the responders in Cebu province,” he said, urging all LGUs to form an emergency response team.

The three-day rescue summit is held at Boy Scout Camp in Barangay Kalunasan and is attended by different government offices.  (FREEMAN)