Iloilo strengthens capacity on hazard risk assessment

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The city government is now strengthening its capacity to respond to natural calamities by putting up the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS), a software package designed and developed by PHIVOLCS.

The establishment of REDAS in the city will be done with the help of PHIVOLCS itself, the Department of Science and Technology, the Office of Civil Defense Region 6 and the National Statistics Office.

With this system, the city government will have a better mitigation plans to reduce the impact of potential future earthquakes and other natural calamities, said city officials.

The REDAS software is a seismic hazard simulation software that aims to produce hazard and risk maps immediately after the occurrence of a strong and potentially damaging earthquake.

It has been developed for use of disaster managers for making prompt decisions and quick deployment of rescue and relief operations.

PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum, Jr. said they are now ready to turn over the software to the city government, initially covering seven barangays, all in Jaro district with 1,200 buildings and houses.

“It is now up to the city government to continue filling up the data until it covers the whole city,” Solidum added.

Francis Cruz, executive assistant for economic promotions, and head of Disaster and Risk Management and Information and Communication Technology of Iloilo City asked academe and other private sectors to help complete the data for a more comprehensive response to any calamities that may occur in the city. – THE FREEMAN