DOST IV-A in cooperation with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC IV-A) presented to the public prototypes of two rescue boats last Sept 14, 2011.
Dir. Alexander R. Madrigal of DOST IV-A and Dir. Vicente F. Tomazar of RDRRMC-OCD IV-A with members of the technical working group, developed two rescue boats; one made from fiberglass and the other a raft or ’balsa’ made from bamboo canes. The team aimed to provide local search and rescue teams with a means for safe, cheap, and easy rescue.
Cooperating agencies such as MARINA, the Buklod Tao Inc. of San Mateo Rizal, and the Bayog Boatmakers Association of Los Baños, Laguna polished the boat design and fabrication requirement. On the other hand, the CALABARZON STARS and Tagalog Association of Texas Inc. provided the financial assistance. In addition, Madrigal and Tomazar assisted in the series of test rides and rescue drills using the prototypes. Parameters observed during the test rides include buoyancy, stability, maneuverability, and loading capacity.
An Early Warning System (EWS) was also developed by DOST IV A. The said EWS provides information on local amount of rainfall and river/stream level through an automatically disseminated weather bulletin from RDRRMC IV-A Operation Center to its member-agencies, local disaster risk reduction and management councils (LDRRMCs), partner NGOs and other stakeholders.
A technical working group, composed of representatives from the Regional Offices of DENR, NAMRIA, DILG, PAGASA, Oxfam, Colegio de Letran de Calamba, RDRRMC-OCD IV-A and DOST, as well as, the Local Government Units of Los Baños, Bay and Sta. Cruz, was formed to oversee planning, installation and monitoring of the system. The information system currently consists of modules on:
- Automated information dissemination of weather bulletins;
· Feedback that captures and stores data on actual weather conditions in a locality;
· Early Warning System which monitors and sends advisory on weather and risk of flooding; and
· Public inquiry to make accessible to the public weather bulletins and other related updates.
DOST USEC for Regional Operations Carol M. Yorobe and NDRRMC Executive Director and OCD Administrator USEC Benito T Ramos will grace the launching and turn-over of the above-mentioned DRR projects’ outputs on September 14, 2011 in Club Balai, Isabel, Inc. Resort, Talisay, Batangas.
These projects support the newly enacted Republic Act 10121 otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 which strengthened the country’s disaster risk reduction and management system, provided for a national framework, as well as, institutionalized formulation and implementation of a plan. AMGuevarra, DOST IV-A S&T Media
