Abra satellite phone set up for emergencies

By Maritess B. Beñas

BANGUED, Abra -- The Office of Civil Defense installed a Thuraya satellite telephone at the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office here last week for use in times of emergencies.

The telecommunications facility issued to the provincial governor will be used by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council which normally uses the PSDWO as the disaster coordinating center during emergencies such as natural calamities. OCD engineer Jojo Valera said the unit, which utilizes its load in US dollars, will have to be used only as a last resort when all local networks are not available due to extremely bad and hazardous weather condition in the area.

The Thuraya satellite telephone, is installed with a satellite of its own so that the PDRRMC can use it to connect with the regional and national DRRMCs especially in times of emergencies and could be used for texting and calling.

Since the Thuraya satellite phone has to be operated on a 7/24 basis in times of calamities, users were given basic orientation on installation and use of the equipment.

The Thuraya phone had been distributed earlier to provinces in Regions 1, 2, 3, Cordillera and Metro Manila.

Aside from the from the Thuraya phone, Valera also brought with him one unit of a rain gauge.

Engineer Ernesto M. Aton, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer earlier informed the PDRRMC that there were no more rain gauges working in the province due to the antiquity of the units.

The rain gauge is very important determining whether people with low-lying areas need to do pre-emptive evacuation.

The rain gauge could be reproduced by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority so that more units could be installed in various places in the province, Valera added.