MMDA activates flood control information center

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday activated its Flood Control Information Center (FCIC), at its Makati City headquarters.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the FCIC, which cost them P500,000 to put up, has the primary function of relaying information and coordinating multi-agency action during flooding in Metro Manila.

Tolentino said the FCIC will monitor flood-prone areas in Metro Manila and provide crucial information needed to make policy decisions in crisis situations.

“There will be faster coordination with the various local government units and the general public will also be better informed of the situation,” he said.

“We need this (FCIC) to make informed decisions. We can save lives,” he added. The FCIC has 16 large LCD monitors connected to over 70 closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) located in key Metro Manila intersections, flood-prone areas and pumping stations.

Tolentino said the FCIC is also connected to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and can tap other international satellite-based weather monitoring services, such as the one based in Guam, in its operation.

FCIC will also use an incident management and map navigation software that will collate information on flood and other disaster-related incidents. It has a floor map of Metro Manila and outlying waterways that will help trace communities that would be affected when water systems overflow.

“It’s a decision support system especially for emergencies. It collects all information regarding floods and operating systems, especially our pumping stations. We’ll be able to draw in information from PAGASA and information in critical areas so we can plot incidents and what is the response that we have done, and what further measures we need to do,” said Ramon Santiago, head of the FCIC.

“The information generated will eventually be made available to the Metro Manila local government units and the public, to guide them on what to do during emergencies,” he added.

Tolentino earlier said the MMDA’s flood monitoring information would be linked to the agency’s online traffic navigator system, which allows motorists to use their computers or cellular phones to locate streets affected by traffic jams. The system also gives motorists online real time traffic conditions in the streets of Metro Manila.