The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has equipped Western Visayas with a set of Mobile Operations Vehicle for Emergency (MOVE) to bring in communications in communities affected by disaster.
“We need to be prepared and resilient during times of disaster. Having this communications equipment and vehicle could have a great impact to enable responders in providing support to the community,” Edgar Navarro, supervising director of the government emergency communication systems (GECS) from DICT central office, said in an interview at the sidelines of the one-day communications exercise (COMMEX) on Wednesday.
MOVE is equipped with a truck hub, a mobile dispatch, a motorcycle, and drones. It is also equipped with VHF (very high frequency) and HF (high frequency) radios and Starlink that could provide connectivity in the community during emergencies.
During disasters, they can be deployed upon the direction of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) or assessment of the DICT.
The HF radio can propagate or send signals almost anywhere from regional and provincial offices to the national level. The VHF has a limited range and is usually for use in affected areas, he said.
Participants of the COMMEX include responders and invited disaster risk reduction officers.
“This exercise will show how they will respond during emergencies. The series of trainings is ongoing,” he said.
DICT has already deployed MOVE in the cities of Batangas, Tacloban, Butuan, and Mabalacat as well as in Davao del Sur and the National Capital Region. (PNA)
