Philippines: Benguet to secure seismic hazard software

PIA press release by Susan Aro

La Trinidad, Benguet - The provincial government may soon have an accurate seismic hazard data base as it is now working to secure a software program called REDAS or the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

The program could produce seismic hazard and risk maps minutes after the occurrence of a potentially damaging earthquake.

Governor Nestor Fongwan hopes to acquire the software that can be used for emergency preparedness as a tool to initiate mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into the local development planning process.

Fongwan’s request was referred to the committee on public utilities for appropriate action and recommendation.

The system, REDAS, can be used to conduct hazard and risk assessment at the provincial and municipal level.

The software, together with a training component, will strengthen disaster management capabilities of communities in the municipalities and the province as well.

Also indicated in the draft MOA is that both parties will share information and technology relevant to the project such as hazard maps produced and built-in on REDAS software and geographic location of elements-at-risk of the province.

The program to be provided at no cost requires a GPS or Global Positioning System. According to Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, with a GPS receiver, one can quickly and accurately determine the latitude, the longitude, and in most cases the altitude of a point on or above Earth's surface.  (JDP/SCA-PIA CAR,Benguet)