In a bid to bolster disaster preparedness and save lives, the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has upgraded the communications system of its municipal and city counterparts, ensuring seamless coordination during calamities.
Alfonso Baldonado III, chief of the PDRRMO administrative and training division, said the office recently conducted a two-batch “Resilient Radio Communication and Operations Protocols Seminar Workshop” for all municipal and city radio operators.
“Our goal is for the province to operate as a single team in radio communications, protocols, and operations—a unified standard and a strong signal for the entire province,” Baldonado said.
He explained that interoperability was previously a challenge due to uncoordinated training among radio operators.
To reinforce emergency communications, the provincial government installed five district-based radio repeaters, complementing the first repeater on Mt. Cañapasan in San Enrique.
Baldonado emphasized that this network ensures uninterrupted communication even if commercial telecommunication services fail.
During the four-day seminar, participants learned to construct improvised antennas, further strengthening emergency response capabilities.
Baldonado noted the human connection made a significant difference: “Operators were able to put faces to the voices we hear over the radio during disaster communications. Knowing each other personally will make communication faster and more effective.”
Earlier this year, the PDRRMO also equipped 43 local government units with base radios, allowing instant communication from field units to the provincial operations center.
The setup streamlines reporting to the Office of the Civil Defense and the Governor’s Office, enabling faster and more coordinated action during emergencies.
With these upgrades, Iloilo is setting a new standard in disaster readiness, ensuring that local governments remain connected and capable of rapid response when calamities strike.IMT
