Quezon City homeowners bat for Smart InfoBoard service

MANILA, Philippines - With the rainy season right around the corner, a group of homeowners in Quezon City is encouraging other communities in Metro Manila to use a Web-based solution called Infoboard, for quick and accurate information dissemination and mobilization of homeowners, especially in times of emergency.

The Alliance of Quezon City Homeowners Associations Inc. (AQCHAI) encouraged attendees to the recently concluded Homeowners’ Associations (HOA) Summit, to use the InfoBoard, for the safety and protection of member-residents. 

AQCHAI is the biggest federation of HOAs in Quezon City.

The technology, developed by Smart Communications Inc., allows homeowners associations to use any Internet-enabled computer to send important announcements, such as flooding forecasts, security and emergency advisories, road maintenance activities, and power or water interruption schedules, that homeowners will receive on their cellphones via SMS, at no cost to them, wherever they are and at any time of the day.

Through their Smart cellphones registered to the InfoBoard, the homeowners themselves may also use the service to text emergency updates, reports, and feedback to the association they belong to, for only P1 per message.

According to lawyer Emmanuel Solidum, president of the BF Homes Quezon City Homeowners Association, his community started using the InfoBoard in February 2011, and has since repeatedly seen how the solution empowers their community.

“We experience real-time information dissemination. We no longer have to wait for days, or even weeks, for response. Our residents instantly receive and reply to community updates through their mobile phones,” Solidum said.

“It is most helpful in disaster mitigation. Last year, during the rainy season, our residents received emergency measures through the InfoBoard, such as a list of emergency numbers and reminders to prepare emergency kits like radios, flashlights and batteries in case of a blackout during a storm,” he said.

Other communities across Metro Manila, such as Tahanan Village in BF Homes in Parañaque City and Bel-Air Village in Makati City, also enjoy the benefits of Smart’s InfoBoard.

According to AQCHAI president Jordan Tolentino, the group hopes to encourage all 88 HOAs in their federation to start using Smart’s InfoBoard and take advantage of its speed and efficiency, especially when the rains come.

“We are committed to ensuring Quezon City residents’ security, safety and protection since the rainy season is fast approaching, and the InfoBoard will help us do just that. It can be as simple as sending a ‘text blast’ to our residents’ mobile phones if there is a storm approaching, or if there are flooded areas, so they can take the necessary precautions,” Tolentino said.

“In the most extreme cases, it can also help us save lives, such as when we need to mobilize evacuation and other emergency situations,” he said.

Tolentino added: “I would like all our HOAs to experience the advantage of this technology, as it is a very beneficial tool for disaster preparedness.”

For more information on Smart’s InfoBoard, e-mail at [email protected].