Enhancing disaster resilience through connectivity and community partnerships

unconnected.org, the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are partnering to enhance community resilience, with focus on schools, most especially in vulnerable areas where connectivity is a challenge. 

The NDRRMC, as chaired by the OCD, is the principal agency for disaster preparedness, response, and management. The council is central to the coordination among various government, non-government, and private sector organizations to reduce disaster risks and manage the consequences of both natural and human-induced hazards.

Schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) are organic locations where communities converge in peacetime and during emergency situations.

While the establishment of equipped evacuation centers has already been passed into law as RA 12076, connectivity is a facility much to be deserved, as one that cuts across the user-base, including responders, victims and decision-makers. 

In the Ceremonial Signing, unconnected.org represented by Country General Manager Benjz Sevilla and Technical and Operations Manager Jessieca Baris Technical and Operations Manager. Jessieca Baris shared how the connectivity platforms, much more so in times of disasters, are a necessary form of response and aid. It is also acknowledged that connectEMERGENCIES is made possible through funding from the Internet Society (ISOC) Foundation to unconnected.org.

“Connectivity is no longer a luxury; it is a life-saving tool. In times of crisis, having reliable internet access means the difference between isolation and coordination. We’re proud to work hand in hand with national agencies to equip schools with the tools they need to become safe havens and communication hubs,” said Benjz Sevilla, Country General Manager of unconnected.org.

The Internet plays a role in building resilience through training and preparedness, while it becomes a critical lifeline when the actual disaster strikes. 

Emergency telecommunications responders aim to re-establish coverage and access, and rapidly deployable technologies such as satellite are essential towards achieving this objective. 

While educational facilities pre-equipped with satellite internet are dispersed in rural and remote areas, still they form part of the resources and assets which may be utilised in times of need, addressing the lack of reliable digital infrastructure in the countryside.

July is commemorated as the National Disaster Resilience Month. With this, certification activities and other public awareness initiatives are in the pipeline to be jointly organised by unconnected.org and its partners.