PHIVOLCS conducted a REDAS training entitled “Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into the Local Development Planning Process, Contingency Planning, and Emergency Preparedness Through the Use of REDAS Software for the Province of Pampanga - Modules 1-3: Basic REDAS and Seismic Hazard Assessment Module, Developing Relational Database in REDAS and REDAS Exposure Database Development”. It was held last May 22-27, 2023 at Pampanga PDRRMC Training Center, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. This is the second province-level training after the first REDAS training held in 2009.
The training was preceded by a pre-training and installation session through zoom platform last May 17-18, 2023. This was conducted to guide the participants in the installation of REDAS, ETAM and SRM tools as well as to assist in signing in to the GeoMapperPH web and mobile application. A total of 132 REDAS, ETAM and SRM License Keys was issued for the training. The participants were from the following offices and LGUs: PDRRMO (8), PENRO (2), MISU (2), OPA (2), PASSO (1), PEO (2), PHO (2), PPDO (2) ; LGUs of Apalit (1), Arayat (1), Bacolor (1), Candaba (1), City of San Fernando (1), Floridablanca (1), Guagua (1), Lubao (2), Macabebe (1), Magalang (1), Masantol (1), Mexico (1), Minalin (1), Porac (1), San Luis (2), San Simon (1), Santa Ana (1), Santo Tomas (1) and Sasmuan (1).
For the first day of the training, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing was conducted for the provision of REDAS Software and Installation of Earthquake Intensity Meter between the Pampanga LGU and DOST-PHIVOLCS at the Pampanga Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. The DOST-PHIVOLCS was represented by Dir. Teresito C. Bacolcol while the Province of Pampanga was represented by Gov. Dennis Garcia Pineda. Also present to witness the MOA signing are DOST-PHIVOLCS Supervising Science Research Specialist Winchelle Ian Sevilla and Science Research Assistant Jordana Marie Argamosa. Also gracing the ceremony were Pampanga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Chief Angelina Blanco, Provincial Administrator Atty. Charlie Chua, Climate Change Division Chief Mr. Zacarias Daniel A. Baricuatro and the PDRRMO staffs.
During the training proper, the first two days focused on the Exposure Database Development Module (Module 3) of the training. The REDAS EDM GeoMapperPH desktop and mobile application were introduced to the participants as tools for collecting exposure database. Lectures on Philippine Building Typology and Attributes in the REDAS EDM GeoMapperPH were also discussed to be able to populate the entries in the tool. The Use of Instant StreetView (ISV) as an alternative method to field survey for collecting exposure information was also taught. At the end of the module, a field survey in Brgy. Sindalan was conducted, wherein the participants were required to survey at least one structure using ArcGIS FieldMaps to test their capability using the tool. Photos 2 and 3 show participants conducting building survey and footprints of buildings that were surveyed. Colors of footprint indicate the UPD-ICE building types assigned to the structure.
During the next day, the REDAS Satellite Rainfall Monitor (SRM) tool was taught to the participants, a tool that lets users monitor the amount of rainfall data at a particular time and location. Afterwards, lectures and hands-on exercises on Basic REDAS Features and SQLite Series were taught to familiarize with the operation of the said tools. For earthquake-related topics, the Earthquake and Tsunami Alerting Module (ETAM) and Seismic Hazard Assessment were also taught to the participants. As part of the requirements to test their understanding to the topics discussed, the participants produced a digitized community center map (Photo 4) in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, and a simulated PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) map of the 2019 Central Luzon Earthquake using the REDAS software (Photo 5).
The training was a success as mentioned by most of the participants in the evaluation form. One of the action plans of the Pampanga PDRRMO during the way forward discussion is the installation of the REDAS system in the Command Control Center of the province and the continuity of REDAS training for advanced REDAS modules. For the overall assessment of the training, 83% of the participants were very satisfied, while 17% were satisfied. Photo 5 shows groups photo on Day 1 with PHIVOLCS Director Teresito C. Bacolcol while Photo 6 shows the graduation group photo of the participants together with REDAS Programmed Coordinator Dr. Maria Leonila P. Bautista.
The training was headed by PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol and REDAS Program Coordinator and Associate Scientist Dr. Maria Leonila P. Bautista with advice and guidance from REDAS Course Advisers Dr. Bartolome C. Bautista, Ishmael C. Narag, and Engr. Angelito G. Lanuza. The speakers and facilitators were Ms. Ma. Antonia V. Bornas, Dr. Winchelle Ian G. Sevilla, Lawrence Aaron C. Bañes, Ian P. Javier, John Deladia, For. Jordana Marie L. Argamosa, Engr. Noel C. Rosario Jr., Sarena P. Tarongoy, Engr. Hannah Joy D. Torio, and Engr. Jose Vincent E. Cruz as well as GeoRiskPH staffs Jan Van Oliver Q. Samorano, Trisha Marie Morado, Marjoleen Belviz and Conrado Alfonso M. Favis. Guest facilitators included Jethro B. Capino from DENR-MGB, Bernard Punzalan II and Sharon Juliet Arruejo from PAGASA. Mr. Zacarias Daniel A. Baricuatro and Mr. Robin N. Francisco served as the coordinators from the Pampanga PDRRMO.
