DOST to Host 4th Asia Pacific Telecommunity Disaster Management & Communications Workshop

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will be hosting the 4th Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Disaster Management & Communications Workshop on 23-25 July at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The Workshop aims to bring together stakeholders responsible for emergency communications and warning systems in the Asia Pacific region to discuss availability and use of such systems for public protection and disaster relief.

With more than 100 foreign and local delegates, the workshop will discuss topics such as: a) information dissemination and collaboration in  disaster management; b) technology updates in disaster warning and communication systems; lessons learned and experiences in disaster management in the Asia Pacific; disaster recovery issues and challenges, etc. The event will coincide with the DOST’s celebration of the National Science and Technology Week. The brainchild for the said workshop is Smarter Philippines Program Leader, Mr Alejandro ‘Bud’ Melchor III.

It will be noted that the Philippines has been subjected to so many natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, mudslides, etc in the last three decades.  Records will show that close to 33,000 casualties have been recorded in the country’s disasters starting 1980 to date, with an economic damage reaching an estimated $7 Billion. Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009 flooded 80% of Manila, with total damages reaching $100M. It is then deemed imperative that we continue to upscale our disaster management systems and equipment.

For those interested to know more about contemporary disaster management systems and technologies, you may get in touch with the Secretariat at:

Philippine Secretariat

c/0 International Technology Cooperation Unit (ITCU)

Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Telefax: +63 (02) 838-8376

Email: itcu-mail@dost.gov.ph / cestimado@gmail.com