Gov’t wants mobile apps for disaster preparedness

MANILA, Philippines - Can you develop web or mobile apps that can save lives in times of natural calamities?

Government website www.data.gov.ph announces the holding of  “Readysaster: Hack for Resilience” on May 10 to 11, an overnight event where developers, data geeks and designers will collaborate to create web or mobile applications that can be used to help improve local communities’ ability to identify and reduce natural disaster risks, and prepare for and respond to major natural disasters.

The event is part of Code for Resilience, a project of the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, which aims to build communities’ resilience to natural disasters through innovative uses of information and communication technologies.

The event is Open Data Philippines’ participation in a weeklong series of events that share a theme of harnessing knowledge, technology and innovation in building a more resilient Philippines.

Another event, the 1st Philippine Tech Camp: Disaster Risk Reduction and Response for Resilience to be held on May 5-6, is organized by the US Department of State and USAID, with the UN World Food Program.

“The events of May 5 to 11 complement each other, with both displaying a shared commitment to explore all avenues in providing solutions to the risks and dangers posed by calamities. As always, we are grateful for the continued support and solidarity of our partners and friends in the international community – not only in the immediate responses needed after (Super Typhoon) Yolanda struck the country, but even today, in continuing to empower the Filipino people through community resilience and disaster preparedness,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB.

Meanwhile, citizens and civil society groups have greater opportunities for engaging government on matters affecting their daily lives using the Internet.

They can also serve as watchdogs in the implementation of the government’s major programs and projects like the conditional cash transfer program.

These are among the highlights of the discussions during the first day of a forum of the Knowledge for Development Centers (KDCs) held April 23 to 25 at the World Bank Group office at Fort Bonifacio Global City.

KDCs comprise 15 universities, policy and research institutions in the Philippines that promote knowledge sharing about development issues, in partnership with the World Bank Group.

The government of Australia through the Australia-World Bank Philippines Development Trust Fund supports the forum.

“The government plans to roll out a National Feedback Mechanism soon,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who was among the main speakers during the forum, said.

“Envisioned as a link between government and civil society, it will serve as an online platform where citizens will be able to engage government by launching petitions or making queries online,” he said.

Lacierda said the online platform is part of the government’s commitment to the Open Government Partnership (OGP) launched globally in 2011. The Philippines is one of eight founding members along with Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Lacierda said the OGP was a global effort to secure commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.