Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and Digitel Mobile Philippines, Inc. (DMPI) have backed disaster response efforts of both government and volunteer groups following the devastation caused by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Central Visayas last October 15.
Given the critical role of communications in coordinating post-disaster response, the two telcos have made sure that sites that were affected by the strong quake were restored the soonest possible time so that voice, SMS and data services can be fully utilized by both responding agencies and humanitarian teams on the ground.
The Bohol and Cebu Disaster City and Provincial Risk Reduction &Management Councils have been able to efficiently and effectively deploy resources for rescue and emergency using Smart and Sun Cellular’s voice, SMS and data services.
Smart provided 4G LTE in the operations center of both Bohol and Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils for monitoring and timely reporting of on-ground situation of the various towns affected by the earthquake.
“Undisrupted communications is very important to ensure that the calls of the affected residents get through to us so we can respond to their needs. This would help us dispatch the appropriate agency to provide assistance and efficiently deploy resources given the scale and size of the devastation,” said Darwin Bernasor of TARSIER 117, the rescue and emergency response unit of the Bohol Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Mayor Virgilio Lurot of Cabigtian, Bohol relates how dependent local officials are on communications to assess the extent of the damage of the quake and coordinate disaster response, and how difficult it could get when one’s network is not working. Good thing that his wife and one of his kids are using Smart and Sun Cellular, respectively.
“I used my wife and son’s phones to help coordinate our disaster response and to check on the situation per barangay. This is when I realized how important communication is, especially during disasters. As mayor, I am also responsible for my constituents and I have to check on them too, and be the voice of calm and reason in an otherwise chaotic and fearsome situation. It would be very difficult to do that when communication lines are down,” says Lurot.
Even members of the media relied on the resiliency of the Smart network in reporting their stories.
Alex Rey Pal, OIC for the Visayas of the People’s Television Network, and correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, was sent to Bohol to report on the aftermath of the earthquake.
“Only Smart was operating and giving 3G signal when we got to Loon and Tubigon (among the towns that bore the brunt of the quake). There was no power in those two towns, but since I could continually recharge my phone and laptop in my car, I continued to enjoy Smart’s 3G signal in the disaster site. I got videos, edited them and sent them online using Smart’s 3G connection,” says Pal.
Smart has put up libreng tawag and charging stations in various locations to help the public connect with their loved ones on the wake of the quake. The telcos’ cell sites were used as free charging stations particularly in areas where commercial power has yet to be restored.
Internet connectivity and airtime load were also made available to humanitarian agencies like Red Cross Youth, volunteer groups such as CHARL (Chocolate Hills Amateur Radio League) and the Cebu and Bohol blogging communities, GDG/GBG, which are helping out in crisis mapping efforts.
Through Tulong Kapatid, the First Pacific Group’s disaster response platform for its companies in the Philippines, Smart also helped distribute relief packs and hot meals to affected residents in various towns of Bohol.
Smart’s extensive network infrastructure has enabled it to provide key services even in areas that were severely hit by the quake. The telco has factored in through the years network resiliency and redundancy in its network design and has put in place business continuity measures in all areas of its operations to ensure disaster readiness. Similar measures are now being put in place for DMPI (Sun Cellular). (PR)
