Canlaon City in Negros Oriental is now assured of 24/7 internet, satellite, and high-frequency radio communications connectivity following the deployment of emergency communications equipment and vehicles by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Seth Bariga, city public information officer, said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that the city government recently received the Government Emergency Communications System – Mobile Operations Vehicle for Emergency (GECS MOVE) from the DICT and the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV).

The GECS MOVE is a rapidly deployable, high-tech government emergency communications system designed to provide vital Internet, radio, and satellite connectivity in areas affected by calamities and disasters, particularly where local telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged or cut off.

“We are now assured of faster and more reliable telecommunications to the world during disasters, such as the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon or typhoons,” Bariga said.

He recalled that emergency response during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Tino, which triggered massive flooding in Canlaon City, was hampered as it took hours for law enforcement personnel, emergency response teams, and government officials to determine the situation on the ground.

More than 20 people were reported killed while many others were missing, while major roads leading to the city were also cut off at the time.

The GECS MOVE consists of two fully equipped vehicles.

The first, called the Hub, is a customized heavy-duty six-wheeler truck that serves as a mobile command and coordination center equipped with satellite communications or VSAT, high-frequency radios, and power generators.

The second is the Dispatch Unit, a 4×4 off-road pickup truck equipped with self-reliant communications facilities designed to extend connectivity to hard-to-reach areas affected by disasters.

Bariga quoted Mayor Jose Cardenas as saying that the deployment gives the city renewed hope for improved coordination, disaster preparedness, and emergency response capabilities.

He clarified that the GECS MOVE deployment from Western Visayas is not a donation. Instead, the equipment will remain in Canlaon City for as long as there is a continuing threat of disaster.

Bariga said the city government thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., as well as officials of the DICT and OPAV, for responding to the city’s appeal for a stable and robust communications system following its previous experiences during calamities. (PNA)