PIA-III director Robert Baldago (center) and PIA Director General Jose Fabia |
MALOLOS CITY—Knowing that information is power, the Office of the Civil Defence (OCD) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Central Luzon joined hands in harnessing that power to save lives and property.
This
is through information text blast with the support of major telecommunications companies.
In
a media briefing in Pampanga on Friday, Robert Baldago, director of PIA in
Central Luzon said they will compose messages appropriate for the needs of
about 10 million residents of the region and send it directly through the use
of new media like short messaging system (SMS), Facebook, and Twitter.
“Short
messaging or texting is arguably the fastest and most practical way of reaching
a wider population nationwide, empowering them through the information sent to
make intelligent decisions,” he said.
Among
the messages that PIA plans to send out are alerts on typhoons, floods,
tsunami, earthquakes, and advisories on dam release, high tide and low tide,
class suspension and even schedules of brown outs.
Jose
Fabia, PIA director general, said such information will serve as
decision-making tools that would help people make more informed choices.
He
said timely and accurate information can save lives especially in times of
disaster, citing incidents last year when lives were saved after the victims
were able to send out a text message informing the PIA of their situation.
Fabia
said that information served as key to mobilize assistance from
Officials of the Office of the Civil Defense |
different
government agencies.
For
her part, Josie Timoteo, OCD-III director, said advisories are part of early
warning systems during the times of disaster. She said that people can avoid
going to areas where their lives will be in danger.
Timoteo
added that that information text blasting can also help in increasing awareness
and knowledge on how to adapt and address hydrometeorological hazards and other
disasters.
As
a valley, she said that large areas of Central Luzon are prone to flooding
during the rainy season.
She
said that through text blasting which is supported by Smart and Globe
Telecommunication, majority of the about 10 million residents of Central Luzon
can easily be reached by alerts and advisories.
The
PIA said they already have the numbers of local officials from barangay to
provincial levels in their data base along with police officers, members of the
Social Security System (SSS) and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya and
Pantawid Pasada programs of the government.
Even
leaders of transport sectors from buses to jeepneys and tricycle operators are
in their data base, along with urban poor leaders and leaders of senior
citizens’ organizations. (Dino Balabo)
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