DICT CONDUCTS GECS-MOVE COMMUNICATIONS EXERCISE

DICT conducts GECS-MOVE communications exercise By Venus L. Garcia

A simulation exercise on the operability of the Government Emergency Communications System - Mobile Operations Vehicle for Emergency (GECS-MOVE) was conducted through the initiative of the Office of Undersecretary for Resilient Government Emergency Communication, DICT Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, and the DICT GECS team.

The DICT Mindanao Cluster 2 GECS will be deploying the MOVE Hub as the command center. The MOVE dispatch will facilitate the flow of information from ground zero, and the MOVE motorcycle will be deployed to another area to extend the communication of the MOVE dispatch. The activity was purposely held in order to know the capabilities of the GECSMOVE in terms of disaster response. According to DICT Undersecretary Alan A. Silor, connectivity is one of the vital aspects during emergency response. Eng. Rafael Olivar, chief of the DICT-DRRM Division, also acknowledged the importance of said communications exercise and the utilization of advanced technology for disaster preparedness and response. Abegail Villanueva, Information Technology Officer, led the communication exercise, along with Usec. Silor, Director Sittie Rahma Alawi and Director Leo Ugto of the DICT, DICT MC2 GECS Team, and Engr. Olivar. It was also joined by the Department of Education - Siargao Island Division, Tourism Office - Dapa Surigao del Norte, Provincial Government of Siargao Island, LDRRMO Sta. Monica, Kapitolyo Nan Siargao, MDRRMO - Socorro, Surigao Del Norte, MDRRMO Dapa, Surigao del Norte, MDRRMO San Isidro, Surigao Del Norte, MDRRMO San Benito, Surigao Del Norte, BFP Siargao Island, Philippine Coast Guard - Siargao Island, and LDRRMO - General Luna, Surigao del Norte.

The GECS-MOVE is a deployable emergency communications system designed by DICT and World Food Programme (WFP) that provides ICenabled support to disaster-stricken areas in the country. WFP provided technical assistance during the exercises for the capacity-strengthening of GECS-MOVE engineers in understanding the complexity, functionality, and technical specifications of the MOVE sets and the systems installed. (DICTCaraga/VLG/PIA-Surigao del Norte)