PHIVOLCS-DOST conducted a hybrid-setup 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 Iligan City – Modules 1-3: Basic REDAS and Seismic Hazard Assessment Module, Developing Relational Database in REDAS and REDAS Exposure Database Development” last June 27 & 29 and July 3-8, 2023. This is the fourth REDAS training for the city. In 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, three batches of online trainings covering Modules 1-3 were conducted for Iligan City. This year, there were 33 participants from the three city offices and four barangays including guests from Mindanao and Northern Samar. After two-day online installation sessions on June 27-28, 2023, the mostly face-to-face training sessions were held on July 3 to 8, 2023. The training was held at the 4th Floor Lecture Hall, College of Engineering, MSU-IIT, Brgy. Tibanga, Iligan City. This training was in collaboration with MSU-IIT Iligan City Campus and LGU-Iligan City.
The training was headed by PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol, REDAS Program Coordinator and Associate Scientist Dr. Maria Leonila P. Bautista, and REDAS Course Advisers Dr. Bartolome C. Bautista, Ishmael C. Narag, and Engr. Angelito G. Lanuza. The speakers and facilitators were Johnlery P. Deximo, Tom Carlo Simborio, Ian P. Javier, John Deladia, For. Jordana Marie L. Argamosa, Engr. Noel C. Rosario Jr., Sarena P. Tarongoy, Engr. Hannah Joy D. Torio, Engr. Jose Vincent E. Cruz, Princess Di E. Pascual, Jan Van Oliver Q. Samorano, Lemuel Austin P. Constantino, and Marjoleen M. Belviz. Resource speakers included Julius Vincent P. Umali from DENR-MGB, Bernard Punzalan II, and Sharon Juliet Arruejo from PAGASA-DOST. Technical Support staffs from GeoRiskPH were Mabelline Cahulogan, John Harold B. Tabuzo, Conrado Alfonso M. Favis, Richard G. Sulit, and Lyle I. Camus.
The June 27-28 pre-training sessions, conducted through Zoom, were held to guide the participants in installing the REDAS software and other related tools and to help the participants in signing in to the GeoMapperPH web and mobile application. During the same days, introductory lectures were also provided to the participants, such as Introduction to REDAS, Basic Map Reading, Introduction to GPS, Introduction to LGUs Exposure Database, Introduction to REDAS Module 3, Introduction to the GeoRisk Philippines Initiative, and Understanding Geologic Hazards (Floods and Rain-Induced Landslides). A total of 132 Basic REDAS, ETAM, SRM License Keys and REDAS EDM GeoMapperPH credentials were issued for the training. The breakdown of the 33 participants was as follows: 8 from Iligan City (CEO (one), CDRRMO (three), Brgy. Tambacan (one), Brgy. Maria Cristina (one), Brgy. Hinaplanon (one), Brgy. Poblacion (one)), four from Lanao del Norte (Tagoloan (one), Sultan Naga Dimaporo (one), Lanao del Norte (two), and Kapatagan (one). Nine participants were from SUCs: seven from MSU-IIT Iligan City Campus and two from UEP-Laoang Campus. There were also eleven guest participants: four from the City of Cagayan De Oro (CDRRMO), two from Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, two from Talakag, Bukidnon and three from the Province of Dinagat Islands. The participants consist of DRRM Officers, Planning Officers, Engineers, Draftsmen, and University Faculties.
Meanwhile, the face-to-face training proper was conducted on July 3-8 2023. It commenced with the opening remarks of the MSU-IIT Center for Resilience Director Dr. Peter D. Suson (Photo 2).
A discussion of REDAS Satellite Rainfall Monitor (SRM) was given on the first day of the training. Guest speakers from PAGASA, Ms. Sharon Juliet Arruejo, and Mr. Bernard Punzalan II, lectured on Understanding Weather Hazards and Introduction to REDAS-SRM, respectively. The participants were taught how to develop their own exposure database using REDAS EDM GeoMapperPH. Lectures on UPD-ICE Philippine Building Typology and Attributes in the REDAS EDM GeoMapperPH were also provided for them to be able to answer the questionnaires related to building attributes embedded in the tool.
On the second day, lectures on Database Management and Experiences of LGUs in Exposure Database Development were presented. A building survey exercise was conducted so the participants could experience first-hand exposure database collection. The participants were required to survey one structure in the nearby barangays of Tibanga and San Miguel using their smartphones.
On the third day, the participants were taught how to use and operate the REDAS software and its SQLite Module through a series of lectures and hands-on activities under the topics Basic REDAS Features and SQLite Parts I to III. On the fourth day, the participants learned how to plot basemaps and administrative boundaries using SQLite Part IV. Lectures on Earthquake and Earthquake Hazards and Introduction to REDAS Earthquake and Tsunami Alerting Module (ETAM) were given followed by a hands-on exercise on ETAM familiarization and its new features such as Focal Mechanism Solutions, new Earthquake-induced Landslide and Liquefaction susceptibilities and the automatic generation of barangay-level intensities wthj accompanying population-at-risk. The intensity simulation was also plotted on various types of web-based base maps such as Google Earth, Bing, Open Street Map, etc.
The fifth day was comprised of hands-on lecture on SQLite Part 5 (Plotting of Multi-Hazards in REDAS) to identify the existing hazards in the province. More importantly, the participants were taught how to simulate earthquake intensities using the Seismic Hazard Assessment module. The participants were also required to submit an output, which is the ground shaking simulation map of a Magnitude 7.5 Mindanao Fault Earthquake Scenario.
The graduation ceremony was highlighted with impressions from the participants and the closing remarks given by the PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol. The training concluded successfully with positive impressions from the participants. As stated in the evaluation form responses, the participants mentioned that the topics were very relevant to their fields of work and useful for planning and hazard assessment. The integration of REDAS simulation in polishing the Climate Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) was identified as one of the action plans given in the workshop form.
