(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Saturday, 21 December 2024) π—¦π—¬π—‘π—’π—£π—¦π—œπ—¦: Shear Line affecting Southern Luzon and Visayas. Northeast Monsoon affecting the rest of Luzon. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Dinagat Islands will experience Cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms due to the Shear Line. Possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy with at times intense rains. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Trough of Low Pressure Area. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with Moderate to Rough seas / (1.5 to 3.7 meters).


Wednesday, 13 December 2023

DICT installs communication equipment to boost connectivity in disaster-prone areas in Caraga

By Renelle L. Escuadro

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Caraga, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), recently deployed very small aperture terminal (VSAT) units to the identified disaster - prone and highly vulnerable areas within selected local government units in the region.

“Super Typhoon Odette served as a lesson to us when communication totally went down. This time we have a resilient communication system with VSATs now available in disaster- prone areas of the region,” DICT-Caraga regional director Sittie Rahma V. Alawi said.

This initiative bolstered the government's disaster preparedness and emergency response by ensuring continuous communication and coordination lines  before, during, and immediately after natural disasters.

Engr. Joe Mike G. Durac, team leader of the government emergency communication system project of DICT–Caraga, disclosed that prior to the recent earthquake in Surigao del Sur, the team was able to deploy VSATs to three beneficiary sites in the area.

“The installation of the three VSATs in Surigao del Sur was very timely, especially with the recent magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Hinatuan that ensured continuity of communication despite the calamity. Hinatuan, as the epicenter of the earthquake, had its complete installation in November 2023. We have a team now in the affected province that is checking the VSAT stations to ensure that they are fully functional,” Engr. Durac added.

With its significant features and ability to transmit information from remote locations using satellites, VSAT is put in place to guarantee connectivity in rural, coastal, and island locations, making it feasible for emergency preparedness and communication redundancy. 

During the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRMC) Full Council 4th quarter and emergency meeting, DICT - Caraga, as lead agency of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster, shared that the department had already installed a total of 20 VSATs in the entire region. (RLE/PIA-Caraga)

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